Feds raid home of ex-Starkey Hearing president

Updated: 5:30 p.m. | Posted: 4:15 p.m.

The attorney for a former Starkey Hearing Technology executive says he and his client have no idea why federal agents raided the executive's home Wednesday.

The FBI and the IRS executed a search warrant at the Plymouth home of Jerry Ruzicka, who was fired as president of Starkey Hearing Technologies in September. Ruzicka's attorney, Marshall Tanick, said he was not aware of a federal investigation of his client.

"We're not aware of any specific or general allegations that have been made against him or others. We will try to cooperate with the authorities and try to get this matter resolved. No one has informed us of any specific or general charges and there has been no allegations at the present time that there has been criminal wrongdoing."

Tanick said Ruzicka intends to pursue civil claims related to his firing.

A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's office declined comment. Officials with Starkey Hearing also declined comment.

FBI spokesperson Kyle Loven declined to discuss specifics on the visit to Ruzicka's home."The FBI and the IRS were involved in multiple search warrants this afternoon," said Lovan, but he declined to elaborate.

Ruzicka and three other top executives were fired in September. In an email to employees, Starkey's owner, William Austin, said he couldn't disclose any other information due to an ongoing investigation.

In a statement, Starkey Hearing Technologies attorney Scott Neilson said federal investigators were looking into whether the company "has been the victim of criminal activity."

He said the company is cooperating but would not comment further now given the investigation.