Former Fresno IRS employee Viririana Hernandez, 30, has been charged with an identity theft conspiracy that used information stolen from the files of other IRS employees, says U.S. Attorney Benjamin Wagner.
Viririana Hernandez and three of her friends stole $1.2 million from 160 people, many IRS employees, U.S. Attorney Benjamin Wagner said. In a 15-page indictment, prosecutors say the four bought home goods, jewelry and clothes. They created credit cards under others’ names and bought gift cards to continue their crimes without detection, prosecutors said.
An attorney representing Hernandez could not immediately be reached.
A grand jury indicted the four Fresno County residents on 23 counts, charging them with conspiracy, bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. The others named in court papers are Roberto Martinez, 33; Lilliana Gonzalez, 32; and Daniel Miranda, 25.
Hernandez worked at the IRS from 2012 to 2014, prosecutors said, and she had access to coworkers’ personal information. Other victims had their identities stolen after applying to work at a restaurant chain, prosecutors said. Each of the four faces up to 30 years in prison with a $250,000 fine.
Agencies/Canadajournal
Just another “good news” story from the files of the IRS. Doesn’t it just warm your heart to see all of the positive things being done by this generous, warm-hearted, patriotic government agency? All involved in this should be sentenced to the MAXIMUM amount available under the law! After all of the criminal revelations concerning this rogue agency, why are they still around in their current iteration?!