Missouri man sentenced for tax fraud

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- A southwest Missouri man is going to prison for two years for a tax fraud scheme that prosecutors say cost the federal government about $105,000.

The U.S. Attorney's office says 48-year-old Michael R. Jett, of Reeds Spring, won't be eligible for parole under the sentence he received Thursday in federal court.

Jett pleaded guilty in December to make a false claim against the government. He admitted filing 22 false or fraudulent tax returns between January 2009 and January 2012.

Those returns, filed on behalf of himself, his family and others claimed about $124,000 worth of refunds, which were directly deposited into the recipients' bank accounts. In fact, prosecutors said, the returns only qualified for $19,000 in refunds.