Charles Littlejohn, Tax Return Disclosure, Washington 2023

Charles Littlejohn, a 38-year-old government contractor from Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty to disclosing tax return information without authorization on today. The unauthorized theft and disclosure of tax return information is a serious breach of the public’s trust, according to the Justice Department.

According to court documents, Littlejohn accessed tax returns associated with a high-ranking government official, known as Public Official A, on an IRS database after using broad search parameters designed to conceal the true purpose of his queries. He then evaded IRS protocols established to detect and prevent large downloads or uploads from IRS devices or systems. Littlejohn saved the tax returns to multiple personal storage devices, including an iPod, before contacting News Organization 1.

Between August 2019 and October 2019, Littlejohn provided News Organization 1 with the tax return information associated with Public Official A. He then stole additional tax return information related to Public Official A and provided it to News Organization 1. In September 2020, News Organization 1 published a series of articles about Public Official A’s tax returns.

Littlejohn also stole tax return information for thousands of the nation’s wealthiest individuals in July and August 2020. He disclosed this information to News Organization 2, which published over 50 articles using the stolen data. Littlejohn then obstructed the forthcoming investigation into his conduct by deleting and destroying evidence of his disclosures.

Littlejohn pleaded guilty to unauthorized disclosure of tax return and return information. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 29, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The case was investigated by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), and the Justice Department’s Public Integrity Section is prosecuting the case. Littlejohn's actions demonstrate a severe breach of the public’s trust, and the Justice Department is committed to holding accountable those who violate our laws.

The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) is dedicated to conducting comprehensive investigations of criminal activity that impacts federal tax administration. TIGTA stands ready to investigate, pursue, and bring to justice any individuals who abuse IRS systems, steal taxpayer information, and/or illegally disclose taxpayer information.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/irs-contractor-pleads-guilty-disclosing-tax-return-information-news-organizations