NASHVILLE, Tenn.- A former IRS employee will serve two years behind bars for filing fake tax returns using other people's information.
On Tuesday, 57-year-old George Albright was sentenced after he plead guilty in May 2012 to one count of filing a false tax return and one count of using the identities of other persons to do so. Albright worked for the IRS for 17 years.
According to federal prosecutors, Albright used his position with the IRS to obtain taxpayers information. He then filed fraudulent returns, directing nearly $10,000 into his personal bank accounts.
"Tax fraud, or any crime committed by a government employee, occupies a high priority for federal investigators and prosecutors in this district," said U.S. Attorney Jerry Martin. "Anyone filing a fraudulent tax return and anyone employed in a position of public trust should take note of the prison sentence they risk if they engage in this sort of criminal conduct, even if they have no criminal record. They should also be reminded that there is no parole in the federal system."
Officials said in addition to his prison sentence Albright will be required to repay the refunds he fraudulently obtained.
