A Milwaukee tax preparer is now facing the possibility of time behind bars after pleading guilty to a charge of aiding in the preparation of false tax returns. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin released a statement indicating that Jasmeika Simon, 33, entered her plea on January 28, 2026. According to the plea, Simon filed nearly 361 tax returns electronically with the IRS for the tax years 2021 through 2023, and around 331 of those were flagged for potential fraud.
The official press release explains that Simon exaggerated or fabricated items such as business income, household employee wages, and other credits to inflate refunds for her clients, thus bolstering her own commission. These actions have reportedly led to an intended IRS loss of around $3.3 million, and an actual tax loss due to fraudulent refunds paid out is near $1.83 million. Additionally, Simon illegally gained more than $230,000 in fees. Throughout her scheme, Simon leveraged a variety of misleading refundable credits and payments to enrich herself at the government's expense, taking advantage of credits designed for families and workers in need.
For her part in this fraudulent endeavour, Simon could be facing up to three years in prison along with a fine that might reach up to $250,000. United States District Court Judge Brett H. Ludwig is slated to sentence her on June 8, 2026. The case investigation, led by the IRS Criminal Investigation unit, also brought to light the complexities and the vulnerabilities in the tax preparation system—often exploited by those seeking to make an illicit gain.
The consequences of such tax preparation fraud are significant for the individuals involved, as well as for the integrity of the nation's tax system. Assistant United States Attorney Peter J. Smyczek, who is prosecuting the case, has not yet provided public comment on the potential sentencing or the specifics of Simon's plea deal. Meanwhile, the IRS continues to advise taxpayers to carefully vet their tax preparers to avoid falling victim to such fraudulent activities and to maintain conformity with tax laws, as mentioned in the same press release.
