Two dozen Tennessee-based IRS workers have been accused of fraudulently obtaining unemployment benefits, food stamps, welfare and housing vouchers, illegally receiving a total of $250,000 in government benefits.

The thefts occurred while the workers were fully employed at the Internal Revenue Service. The fraudsters were caught as part of an ongoing investigation called “Operation Double Dip”, in which the IRS tries to catch employees who steal government benefits.

“You’ve got these employees that are taking advantage of the system that they are so intimate with it by virtue of their jobs,” Shelby County District Attorney General Amy Weirech told The Tennessean. “It’s doubly frustrating.”

Thirteen employees have been indicted on federal charges that they lied to fraudulently get the benefits, and are facing up to five years in prison for making false statements. The 11 other employees have been indicted on state charges for theft of more than $1,000 each, and each face a felony sentence that can result in 12 years imprisonment.

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