If George Albright had known the magnitude of the risks he was taking by filing false refund returns, I don’t think he would have done it.  He was sentenced to two years in prison on Wednesday.  Albright, 57, worked for the IRS for 17 years.  During the period of 2008-2011 Mr. Albright filed false income tax returns using confidential financial information available to him by virtue of his position at the IRS.  And for his efforts, he earned himself a dismal $9,600.  There are criminals on the streets of Tampa, FL who could make that kind of money in one day!

Judges tend to show very little mercy to federal government workers with tax problems, especially Internal Revenue Service employees, who cheat the very system they’re a part of.  And the U.S. Attorney’s office prosecutes these cases very aggressively:

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.

~ U.S. Attorney Jerry Martin

On a side note, in Florida, tax collectors are independent elected county officers responsible for collecting a variety of taxes and fees.  The Collector for Marion County, FL happens to be named George Albright.  Same name; different guy.