STAMFORD, Conn. — A U.S. District Court judge sentenced Stamford’s Joseph Romanello, 46, to 18 months in jail followed by three years of supervised released for illegally structuring cash withdrawals to evade reporting income on his tax returns in 2003 and 2004, a press release from U.S. Attorney David B. Fein’s office said.

On Monday, the judge also ordered that he file tax returns for the two years, and pay back taxes, penalties and interest for over $2.7 million. The sentence was given to Romanello on Friday, a year after he pleaded guilty to the offense, the release said.

Between January 2003 and March 2005, the landscaper structured cash transactions of about $2 million by withdrawing cash to keep his accounts at or just below $10,000, the release said. Financial institutions have to file a currency transaction report for transactions exceeding $10,000, the release said.

For 2003 and 2004, Romanello did not file a federal income tax return, the release said.