An employee with the Internal Revenue Service in Atlanta pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated identity theft using taxpayer information according to an announcement from the Justice Department.
According to documents and information presented in court, between September 2012 and March 2013, Stephanie Parker worked for the IRS as a Contact Representative in Atlanta, Georgia. Taxpayers called into the IRS for assistance and Parker handled the taxpayers’ inquiries.
During the calls, Parker obtained the taxpayers’ Social Security numbers and addresses. On at least five occasions, she used the taxpayers’ personal information to electronically file fraudulent tax returns in their names without their authorization. Parker directed the fraudulent tax refunds to bank accounts controlled by her friends. Parker, in turn, had the money withdrawn from at least one of those accounts and deposited a portion of the money into her own bank account and used it for personal expenses.
Parker faces a mandatory sentence of two years in prison, as well as a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.
The investigation was conducted by special agents of IRS–Criminal Investigation and Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA).
