The United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Andrea Longenecker, age 48, was sentenced March 1, 2012 by Chief United States District Court Judge Yvette Kane to a two year term of probation for trying to obstruct the administration of IRS law. Judge Kane also ordered Longenecker to cooperate with the IRS in all taxes.

     According to United States Attorney Peter J. Smith, on June 2, 2010, IRS Automated Collection Services issued a Notice of Levy to Longenecker's employer seeking garnishment of wages in the amount of $6,133 for unpaid 2004 taxes. Longenecker later sought hardship relief through the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS). The advocate assigned to Longenecker found that she had failed to file tax returns in 2000, 2002, 2003 and 2007. Longenecker received a letter from TAS informing her that she was not eligible for assistance from the TAS until she filed her tax returns. In response, Longenecker scanned TAS letterhead and forged a letter purporting to release the levy on her wages and emailed it to her employer.

     Longenecker was indicted in March 2011 and later pleaded guilty in October 2011.

     This case was investigated by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA). Prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Daryl F. Bloom.

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