Four ex-IRS call center workers convicted of fraud

Four former Internal Revenue Service employees have been convicted on fraud charges alleging that they claimed unemployment benefits while working for the federal agency.

The four individuals received more than $30,000 in jobless benefits while working at an IRS call center in Indianapolis. Court documents say Sheila Hill, Je-Taun Finch, Elizabeth Amos and Lorita Hiter were employed by the IRS between 2008 and 2010 as call center employees who would be furloughed at the end of tax season.

Federal prosecutors say the defendants engaged in a scheme to falsely claim unemployment benefits even as they were employed by the IRS during tax season.

A fifth defendant, Andrea Jackson, was expected to plead guilty to charges of bilking taxpayers out of another $8,700 in the scheme.