An IRS Revenue Agent with over 17 years of service is facing charges for allegedly filing false personal tax returns. Ndeye Amy Thioub, 67, a resident of Swampscott, was arrested and is set to appear in federal court in Boston, authorities announced earlier today. Her job at the IRS included conducting independent field examinations of complex returns filed by large businesses and organizations.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Thioub filed fraudulent tax returns for the years 2017 through 2019 by claiming false business losses from a so-called "import and export" business. These losses, her charges claim, were used to improperly reduce her personal income and tax liability, potentially saving her thousands. The claim includes an underreporting of income by approximately $42,805 in 2017, $20,324 for 2018, and $27,063 in 2019.
Thioub, who holds a position in the IRS's Large Business and International Division, also taught as a Visiting Instructor at Salem State University, where she lectured on verification of records, accounting analyses, and the ethical standards facing auditors. The allegations are a sharp contrast to the professional standards she preached in academia. The charge of filing a false tax return could lead to a sentence of up to three years in prison, one year of supervised release, and a $100,000 fine.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Kristina E. Barclay of the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit. In their announcement, Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy, along with officials from the IRS and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, highlighted the arrest. Levy's office stressed the importance of integrity for public servants, particularly those in positions overseeing the nation's tax laws. Despite the damning allegations, it is important to remember that "the details contained in the charging documents are allegations," and that Thioub is "presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law," as the U.S. Attorney's Office stated.
