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IRS employees in Tennessee accused of theft, false statements

NASHVILLE, April 18 (UPI) -- Thirteen Internal Revenue Service employees in Tennessee were indicted Thursday on charges they lied to get unemployment and other benefits, officials said.

An additional 11 were indicted on state charges of theft. In total, workers improperly received over $250,000 in government benefits from 2006 to 2012, authorities said.

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The charges came after an investigation originated by the U.S. Treasury Inspector General of Tax Administration, which has focused on IRS employees who illegally draw government benefits, typically by properly collecting unemployment benefits while furloughed but failing to report their return to work, the (Nashville) Tennessean reported Thursday.

The 13 indicted on federal violations were charged with multiple counts of false statements, punishable by up to five years in prison, the newspaper noted.

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