Tax scandal began in Nov. 2000

The largest corruption scandal in the history of the District of Columbia appears to have started at least one year, and perhaps two years earlier than prosecutors have acknowledged, records obtained by The Examiner show.

City tax officials Harriette Walters and Diane Gustus stand accused of stealing more than $20 million since 2001, according to court filings. But city records obtained by The Examiner show — and sources familiar with the widening grand jury investigation confirmed — that Walters, 51, and Gustus, 54, cut a nearly $125,000 check to themselves in November 2000.