Ryan Payne, False Representation of a Social Security Number and Aggravated Identity Theft, Arkansas 2024

Former IRS Agent Sentenced to Over 4 Years in Prison for Identity Theft

Fayetteville, AR – In a shocking turn of events, Ryan Payne, a former revenue agent with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), has been sentenced to 52 months in federal prison for his role in a scheme to steal a business owner's identity.

According to court records, Payne, 36, of Barling, Arkansas, used the business owner's name and Social Security number to set up a credit account without authorization. This heinous crime occurred in 2015, while Payne was still employed at the IRS in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) and the Social Security Administration's Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation, which revealed that Payne had retained a flash drive containing business records and personal identifying information after leaving his position at the IRS.

Assistant United States Attorney Sydney Butler prosecuted the case, which resulted in Payne being sentenced to 52 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Payne was also ordered to pay $9,953.13 in restitution.

The sentencing hearing took place on [no specific date mentioned] in the United States District Court in Fayetteville, before the Honorable Timothy L. Brooks.

Payne's crimes are a stark reminder of the importance of protecting personal identifying information and the severe consequences of identity theft.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdar/pr/former-fayetteville-irs-revenue-agent-sentenced-over-4-years-federal-prison-false