IRS Worker Gets Five Years for Bogus Refunds

A little insider knowledge

A former IRS worker faces more than 15 years in prison after a jury convicted her of masterminding a scheme to collect thousands of dollars in refunds by filing bogus claims.

Jurors took less than a day to find Patricia Fountain, 35, of Philadelphia, guilty of extortion, conspiracy and tax fraud. They also convicted her boyfriend, Larry Ishmael, 40, and a friend, Calvin Johnson Jr.

The weeklong trial before U.S. District Judge Stewart Dalzell showcased how a longtime IRS insider exploited the agency's vulnerabilities and ripped it off for nearly five years.