St. John's taxman pleads guilty to fraud

A former employee at the federal tax centre in St. John's who had been accused of illegally pocketing almost $700,000 pleaded guilty Thursday to criminal charges.

Mount Pearl resident Kurt Fagan, 52, pleaded guilty to fraud in excess of $5000 and failing to pay taxes.

Fagan worked at the tax centre for more than 20 years. He failed to pay almost $180,000 in taxes.

Evidence submitted to provincial court from Canada Revenue Agency records suggests that between 1997 and 2007 Fagan re-assessed other people's tax returns and added extra benefits that were paid to him.

Fagan is scheduled to return to court for sentencing August 25.