On July 24, 2019, in the Central District of California, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) employee Felecia Taylor pled guilty to soliciting and receiving a bribe in her capacity as a public official. Special agents of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration previously arrested Taylor in May 2019, when she was charged with the offense.

According to the court documents, Taylor corruptly sought and received something of value in return for being influenced in the performance of an official act. Taylor has been employed by the IRS since February 1990 and is currently employed as a tax specialist. Taylor’s duties include planning and conducting examinations of individual and business taxpayers.

On May 1, 2019, a taxpayer reported that he met with Taylor at her Long Beach office regarding an IRS audit of his 2017 Federal income tax return. Taylor corruptly sought a $5,000 cash bribe while in the performance of her official duties, in exchange for lowering the taxpayer’s tax liability. She also scheduled a follow-up meeting.

On May 7, 2019, the taxpayer met with Taylor at her Long Beach office, which was monitored by law enforcement. Taylor provided adjusted tax records that showed a reduction of the taxpayer’s tax liability to approximately $10,616, the number agreed to at their prior meeting. In exchange, the taxpayer provided Taylor with the $5,000 cash bribe payment, which she accepted.

Taylor could face a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment and a fine of $250,000. Sentencing in this matter has not yet been scheduled.

Source:  The facts in this case narrative come from the following publicly available documents: C.D. Cal. Crim. Compl. filed May 8, 2019; C.D. Cal. Executed Arrest Warrant filed May 9, 2019; C.D. Cal. Plea Agr. filed July 24, 2019; and C.D. Cal. Crim. Docket as of July 29, 2019.