BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - Federal prosecutors say the leader of a tax fraud ring that was run from a state prison has been sentenced to more than five years in prison.
Authorities said Tuesday that 57-year-old Shermaine German was an inmate at the Donaldson Correctional Facility in Bessemer while he coordinated a tax fraud scheme that involved stealing personal information from fellow inmates over the course of about five years.
Prosecutors say taxpayers were scammed out of about $788,000 in the scheme and German pleaded guilty to conspiracy in December.
German was sentenced to five years and six months in prison and is ordered to help pay more than $788,200 in restitution. Six other people have also pleaded guilty in the case.
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