Milwaukee woman sentenced to prison for preparing false tax returns

Date: June 17, 2026

Contact: [email protected]

Brad D. Schimel, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on June 16, 2026, U.S. District Judge Brett Ludwig sentenced Jasmeika Simon to one year and one day in federal prison for aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns, in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 7206(2). Simon operated a tax preparation business that filed hundreds of false and fraudulent returns on behalf of clients in exchange for fees.

According to court records, Simon worked as an independent contractor and tax preparer for "Unlimited Taxes and More," a Georgia-based tax preparation company with affiliates nationwide. From 2022 through 2024, she submitted more than 300 individual income tax returns to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) containing false information designed to inflate clients' tax refunds. Simon repeatedly used fabricated items, including business expenses, Sick and Family Leave Credits, Fuel Credits, and ordinary dividends-to artificially increase refund amounts. She recruited clients through word-of-mouth and Facebook advertising, often preparing returns with minimal input from the taxpayers.

"Tax fraud steals from all honest Americans who work hard and pay their taxes honestly," said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad Schimel. "This defendant committed tax fraud hundreds of times and rightly received a sentence to the federal penitentiary."

In imposing the sentence, Judge Ludwig emphasized the seriousness of Simon's conduct, the need for just punishment, and the importance of deterring others from engaging in similar fraud. Judge Ludwig also ordered Simon to pay more than $250,000 in restitution and to serve one year of supervised release following her prison term.

The case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter J. Smyczek.

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division ("Fraud Division"). The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department's work to combat fraud supports President Trump's Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.

IRS-CI is the law enforcement arm of the IRS, responsible for conducting financial crime investigations, including tax fraud, narcotics trafficking, money laundering, public corruption, healthcare fraud, identity theft and more. It is the only federal law enforcement agency with investigative jurisdiction over violations of the Internal Revenue Code. IRS-CI has 18 field offices located across the U.S. and maintains an international presence through attaché posts abroad.