Man pleads guilty to making false claims about active shooter at Kansas City IRS building

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – A man who falsely claimed a Kansas City Internal Revenue Service employee threatened to shoot up the building where she works has pleaded guilty to fraud that led to an active shooter lockdown.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri announced Thursday, January 16, that 46-year-old Anthony M. Alford pleaded guilty to making a bogus phone call that led to the arrest of an IRS officer and the lockdown of the Pershing Road office.

Court documents state that Alford pleaded guilty to one count of willful communication of false information that misleads. After pleading guilty, Alford admitted to calling 911 and falsely stating that a person was armed with a gun and threatening to shoot people at the IRS building.

On Sept. 10, court records show Alford called 911 to report that an IRS worker had a gun and threatened to shoot up the building at 333 W. Pershing Rd. Law enforcement officers responded and detained an employee who was looking for a weapon.

After the 911 call, investigators locked down the B wing of the building because the IRS announced there was an active shooter in the building. Those in B wing were ordered to shelter in place.

Police said they found the officer responsible was unarmed and had no intention of harming anyone. The employee told investigators that she had been dating Alford for about a month and was trying to break up with him. He was never violent, but exhibited controlling, possessive, and jealous behavior.

Court documents say Alford called and texted an IRS employee repeatedly the night before and earlier that morning. He began to threaten her with the police. One particular message read:

(O)n the phone with the IRS police have fun when you get there

A second message was later found in court records:

… just wait until you get to work.

Law enforcement officials said Alford was arrested on September 25. He told investigators that the employee did not threaten to shoot into the building, as he had reported on the phone. He claimed he had been drinking and was upset when he called.

Under federal law, Alford could face up to five years in prison without parole. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled following the completion of an investigation by the United States Probation Office. No further information has been released.