The federal government has filed lawsuits against seven people nationwide, including a Utah man, claiming they filed illegal tax-refund claims that improperly netted millions in refund checks.

Dick R. Jenkins, of Heber City, is one of the individuals being sued by the U.S. Department of Justice. A complaint alleges that Jenkins prepared his own tax returns and those of other people that employed a tax fraud scheme.

"Jenkins fabricates federal income tax withholdings on tax returns he prepares," court documents state. "The fabricated tax withholding reported to the IRS on his customers' returns results in fraudulent refund claims by his customers in amounts as large as $210 million per customer."

The complaint claims that Jenkins uses fake forms and helps customers falsely claim tax refunds that they are not entitled to receive.

The Department of Justice maintains the seven people who have been sued and their various customers have skimmed hundreds of millions from the U.S. Treasury.

"The scope of the misconduct alleged in these lawsuits is staggering," according to John DiCicco, acting assistant attorney general for the Justice Department's Tax Division.

A message left at Jenkins' office produced no reply.

— Linda Thomson