Cranston Man Convicted of Threatening to Kill IRS Agent

A 49-year-old Cranston man was convicted Friday of threatening to assault and kill an Internal Revenue Service Agent and his family and could face up to 20 years in federal prison.

Andrew A. Calcione was found guilty by Chief Judge William E. Smith after a jury waived trial on May 21 and will be sentenced in September.

Court records show Calcione reportedly called an IRS agent assigned to the Warwick office and left a voicemail threatening to show up at the agent's house and torture him and his family after raping his wife and hurting his daughter while the agent watched.

The agent was assigned to examine Calcione's tax returns from 2008 to 2010 and determined that he owed $330,000 in back taxes. 

Before the threatening voicemails, the agent, while working on the audit, sent Calcione and an ex-wife an extension form that did get signed by Calcione, but not the ex-wife. The agent called and left a voicemail asking about the status of the form.

After leaving the first threatening message, Calcione reportedly called back and and left another voicemail asking the agent to disregard the first message, which he said was left in error.

“The vast majority of Americans understand the payment of their federal taxes is part of their civic responsibilities.  A very small number do not, and an even smaller number not only refuse to pay their taxes, but engage in the kind of outrageous, threatening, and frankly bizarre behavior involved here,” commented United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha.  “This Office will continue to protect and seek justice for government officials simply trying to do their jobs on behalf of the people of the United States.  Suffice it to say that we will be seeking the toughest, appropriate sentence in this case.”

Knowingly and intentionally threaten to assault and murder a Revenue Agent of the IRS with intend to interfere with the official in the performance of official duties and knowingly and intentionally threaten to assault and murder a member of the immediate family of a Revenue Agent of the IRS are each punishable by statutory penalties of up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000.