KANSAS CITY, KAN. - A former employee of the Internal Revenue Service has pleaded guilty to theft of public funds, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today.
Becky L. Book, 49, Pittsburg, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of theft of public funds. In her plea, she admitted that while she worked as an IRS revenue agent she documented a significant amount of time on her assigned cases she did not actually work. Further, she prepared fourteen travel vouchers which claimed mileage to appointments with taxpayers she never attended. The total loss to the government was $26,449.65.
Sentencing is set for May 23. She faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison, a fine up to $250,000 and restitution. Grissom commended the U.S. Department of Treasury - Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tris Hunt for their work on the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
