United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

IRS EMPLOYEE WHO ILLEGALLY ACCESSED TAX INFORMATION IS SENTENCED

Kevin J. O’Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that STEVEN T. ZINS, age 43, of 45 Mechanic Street, Norwich, Connecticut, has been sentenced to two years of probation on his conviction for unauthorized inspection of tax return information and unauthorized use of a computer. United States District Judge Mark R. Kravitz imposed sentence yesterday, March 9, in New Haven.

According to documents filed with the Court and to statements made in court, ZINS was employed as a Tax Resolution Representative in the New London office of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). ZINS pleaded guilty to the charges in December 2004, admitting that, on or about January 3, 2001, he accessed and inspected without authorization an unidentified taxpayer’s individual tax returns for the years 1998 and 1999. Federal law prohibits the unauthorized examination of taxpayer records by IRS employees and IRS employees receive extensive training and instruction regarding the limits of their authority in accessing taxpayer information. ZINS accessed return information of an individual with whom he had a personal relationship, which is specifically prohibited by IRS regulations. Moreover, ZINS accessed the information without a legitimate business purpose.

In addition to the two-year term of probation, Judge Kravitz ordered ZINS to complete 100 hours of community service. ZINS was also required to resign from his position at the IRS, or face termination proceedings. ZINS resigned from the IRS effective December 3, 2004, after 17 years of employment with the IRS.

Both charges are misdemeanor offenses and carried a maximum term of imprisonment of one year for each count. A conviction for unauthorized inspection of tax return information mandated his discharge from federal employment.

“This matter should serve as reminder and a warning to federal employees and others that those who violate the public trust by unlawfully accessing confidential tax return information will be prosecuted,” U.S. Attorney O’Connor stated.

The case was investigated by the Department of Treasury, Office of Inspector General For Tax Administration and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brian P. Leaming.

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov