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IRS Agents Caught Dipping Into The Cookie Jar:  24 Employees Indicted for Tax Fraud

Some people just can’t keep their hands out of the cookie jar. And when that cookie jar is filled with taxpayer dollars, you know the culprits are going to get more than a mere slap on the wrist.

Twenty-four current and former IRS employees in Tennessee and Mississippi are about to find that out the hard way. They recently got caught red-handed defrauding the government of more than $250,000 in benefits and have been indicted for their crimes.

Thirteen were milking their employee “benefits” for all they’re worth. They’re facing federal charges of making false statements to obtain unemployment insurance payments, food stamps, welfare, and housing vouchers. Basically, they said they didn’t have a job while applying for or re-certifying those government benefits – and then they clocked back in from their lunch break. Seriously though, these individuals are facing some serious time: if convicted, they could be eating prison food for the next five years.

Eleven other former and current IRS employees were charged with theft of property over $1,000. They probably thought it was like taking candy from a baby. Now their goose is cooked and they might be served with a class D felony.

U.S. Attorney Edward L. Stanton III dug into these workers who decided to bite the hand that feeds: “According to the allegations in the indictment, while these IRS employees were supposed to be serving the public, they were instead brazenly stealing from law-abiding American taxpayers. These charges demonstrate our unwavering resolve to work with our law enforcement partners and hold accountable anyone who fraudulently obtains government benefits and violates the public’s trust.”

These charges should be food for thought for anybody thinking they can get away with an extra-large slice of the pie. Remember, there’s no such thing as a free lunch.