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Taxes | March 29, 2023

Internal Revenue Service Employee Charged with Theft of Government Vehicle

If convicted, the person could receive a maximum term of 10 years in prison and a fine not to exceed $10,000.

Isaac M. O'Bannon

On January 11, 2023, in the Central District of California, Graham Hefner was arrested on one count of theft of Internal Revenue Service (IRS) property.

According to the court documents, on January 10, 2023, Hefner, a 13-year IRS employee while on administrative “Leave Without Pay” status was seen at the El Monte IRS office. On this same date, two separate witnesses observed vehicle keys and a General Services Administration (GSA) fuel card for an IRS Government Owned Vehicle (GOV) prior to Hefner arriving at the El Monte IRS office. Hours later, an IRS employee noticed the GOV was no longer in the parking lot.

IRS personnel notified law enforcement. On January 11, 2023, San Jacinto Sheriff’s Department deputies stopped the GOV and identified Hefner as the driver based on his Tennessee driver’s license. A TIGTA special agent responded to the scene and took custody of Hefner. In a subsequent Mirandized interview, Hefner admitted to taking the vehicle keys, GSA fuel card, and the GOV for his personal use.

The person has not been convicted and is innocent until such time. If convicted, Hefner could receive a maximum term of 10 years in prison and a fine not to exceed $10,000.

Source:  The facts in this case narrative come from the following publicly available documents: C.D. Cal., Report Commencing Criminal Action, filed Jan. 13, 2023; and C.D. Cal., Crim., Compl., filed Jan. 13, 2023.

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Tags: IRS

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Isaac M. O'Bannon

Isaac M. O'Bannon

Managing Editor

Isaac M. O'Bannon is the managing editor and digital content manager for CPA Practice Advisor (www.CPAPracticeAdvisor.com), drawing on two decades of experience covering the areas of professional accounting, taxation, business productivity and consumer technologies. . Prior to CPA Practice Advisor, O'Bannon was a consultant at firms in San Francisco, Denver and Tulsa, serving clients that included Logitech, Polycom, Hilti, Microsoft, the Stanford Research Institute, the University of Oklahoma's College of Engineering and other technology leaders. He is a U.S. Navy groundforces veteran (never a SEAL). Email: isaac.obannon - @ - cpapracticeadvisor.com . Isaac OBannon 2019 Cropped Small Headshot