IRS agent pleads guilty to soliciting $9,700 bribe
An Internal Revenue Service agent pleaded guilty Thursday to receiving a $9,700 bribe from a small business owner.
Roger Anthony Coombs, 40, of Circle Pines, admitted that he solicited the money and agreed to report a lower federal tax obligation than the small business owed.
Coombs admitted in court that he received payments on May 19 and June 2 of this year.
Coombs began working for the IRS in June 2009. His job was to audit individuals and organizations to determine if they were submitting accurate tax liability reports.
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According to court documents, Coombs met with the two owners of a company and their accountant. When the accountant left the room, Coombs suggested he meet with the owners elsewhere without the accountant.
They agreed, and one of the owners recorded the meeting at which Coombs suggested they pay him to reduce the business' tax liability. The owners then reported Coombs to authorities.
After the owners met with Coombs to receive the final payment of the bribe, authorities arrested him.
Coombs will be sentenced at a later date.