A Scottsdale woman was sentenced to nearly two years in prison and pay more than $2 million in restitution after being sentenced in a case of filing fraudulent tax returns.

Jana Leigh Meincke was sentenced to 21 months in prison and ordered to pay $2,211,304 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service on Jan. 25, officials say.

Ms. Meincke was remanded into federal custody immediately after her sentence, a press release stated.

Ms. Meincke previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate Title 26, U.S. Code, Section 7206(2) — aiding, assisting, or advising taxpayers in preparing and filing fraudulent tax returns.

In August 2020, co-conspirator Thomas Rampetsreiter was sentenced to 24 months in prison, the press release stated.

Ms. Meincke was involved in a scheme with others to create fake entities for clients, the IRS press release stated.

She reportedly did business at various times as Scottsdale Tax Solutions, Arizona Tax Tune Up, Lawton Prep Work GP, R & R Tax Prep Group GP, Just Tax Services GP, Just Tax Service LLC, Tax Services Unlimited, 1st Choice Tax Solutions, Rapido Choice LLC, Assurance Concierge Inc., Rapido Express Acquisition Company Hola GP, JLM Agency, Just Tax Services at Mirage, and Brooks and Field.

The scheme included fabricating  expenses, deductions, and losses for the fake entities to understate or eliminate a client’s taxable income.

Clients ended up paying far less than their legal share of taxes and many received large, fraudulent refunds, the press release stated.

Ms. Meincke would earn commissions and fees based on how much money she and others fraudulently reduced a client’s tax liability.

“This was an egregious scheme involving the creation of fictitious businesses and the fabrication of deductions to obtain fraudulent tax refunds from the United States Treasury,” stated IRS-Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Ismael Nevarez Jr. “Investigating the filing of fraudulent tax returns continues to be one of IRS-CI’s top priorities.”

IRS Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, handled the prosecution.