A former IRS employee has been sentenced to serve 24 months in prison for her role in a brazen identity theft scheme, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Byung J. Pak for the Northern District of Georgia.
Stephanie Parker, a former Contact Representative for the IRS in Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced to 24 months in prison for aggravated identity theft, according to court documents.
Parker’s scheme, which took place between September 2012 and March 2013, involved obtaining the Social Security numbers and addresses of taxpayers who called the IRS for assistance. On at least five occasions, Parker used this personal information to electronically file fraudulent tax returns in the names of these taxpayers without their authorization.
Parker directed the fraudulent tax refunds to bank accounts controlled by her friends. She then had the money withdrawn from at least one of those accounts, deposited a portion of the money into her own bank account, and used it for personal expenses.
In addition to the term of imprisonment imposed, Parker was also ordered to serve one year of supervised release and to pay $5,964 in restitution to the IRS.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman and U.S. Attorney Pak commended special agents of IRS–Criminal Investigation and Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), who conducted the investigation, and Trial Attorneys Alexander Effendi and Michael Boteler of the Tax Division, who are prosecuting this case.
Parker’s sentence serves as a reminder that identity theft is a serious crime with severe consequences. The IRS continues to work tirelessly to protect taxpayers from these types of schemes and to bring perpetrators to justice.
Mandatory Facts:
– Defendant: Stephanie Parker
– Criminal Charge: Aggravated Identity Theft
– City and State: Atlanta, Georgia
– Date: Not specified in the source
– Sentence: 24 months in prison, one year of supervised release, and $5,964 in restitution
– Dollar Amount: $5,964
Key Facts
- State: Georgia
- Category: White Collar Crime, Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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