B.C. CRA employee charged after taxpayer information allegedly ‘compromised’

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) national headquarters in Ottawa, Ont., is seen on Friday, June 28, 2024. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick)

A years-long investigation into a Canada Revenue Agency employee in British Columbia has resulted in several criminal charges, authorities announced Tuesday.

The case was launched in March 2022 following a complaint from the CRA that an employee had “compromised taxpayer information,” the RCMP’s Federal Policing Pacific Region said in a news release.

After nearly four years, members of the FPPR’s Sensitive Investigations Unit arrested Yoan Zola in Vancouver on Jan. 29.

Authorities said the 35-year-old has been charged with identity theft, fraud under $5,000, fraudulent personation, trafficking in identity information, breach of trust, and using a credit card obtained by crime.

The FPPR has not shared any further details on the alleged breach of taxpayer information, but said all “victims impacted by this matter have been informed.”

“As this investigation is now before the courts, no further details will be provided,” the FPPR added.

A CRA spokesperson confirmed Zola is no longer with the agency, but did not respond to questions about when his employment ended, or how.

“Any allegations or suspicions of employee misconduct are taken seriously and are promptly and thoroughly investigated. When wrongdoing or misconduct is founded, appropriate measures are taken,” the spokesperson told CTV News in an email.

Maintaining the public’s trust is “of the utmost importance” to the CRA, the spokesperson added, and there are measures in place to “ensure the highest standard of employee conduct is upheld.”

Authorities said the accused was released on bail conditions, and is scheduled to appear in court next on April 16.