IRS AGENTS DIVERSIFY BY OFFERING WITNESS ASSISTANCE IN DWI CASES

  • IRS AGENTS DIVERSIFY BY OFFERING WITNESS ASSISTANCE IN DWI CASES (At least in their own cases)
  • PORTSMOUTH — An Internal Revenue Service agent used her federal work email to tamper with a witness to her pending driving while intoxicated case, police allege.

Based on those allegations, police on Wednesday arrested Renee Williams, 44, of 178 Portsmouth Ave., Greenland, according to the city’s public police log. Police Capt. Mike Schwartz said Williams is charged with a felony count of tampering with a witness, a charge that carries the potential of jail time. Schwartz said Williams attempted to coerce the witness to change a story about the circumstances surrounding Williams’ pending DWI case.

Schwartz said Williams used an “IRS.gov email account,” from her workplace with the IRS, to tamper with the witness. He said Williams was trying to get the witness to “help her not be convicted.” The underlying charge alleges that on April 16, 2013, at 10:17 p.m., Williams was driving while intoxicated in Portsmouth. At that time she had an address of 70 Wilson Road.

Williams, who could not be reached for comment, has advertised online as a tax preparation specialist with IRS training.

Following her arrest, Williams was released on $1,200 personal recognizance bail, police said. She is scheduled to be arraigned on May 18 in the Portsmouth Circuit Court.