Feds put brakes on man's fuel tax scam

DECATUR, Mich. (AP) - A southwestern Michigan man has been accused of collecting tens of millions of dollars from the U.S. Treasury by illegally claiming a refund for high-octane racing fuel.

Evan Knoll of Decatur in Van Buren County was charged Wednesday with false claims and bank fraud. The government says he received more than $80 million over a 10-year period, and most refunds were not legitimate.

A message seeking comment was left with his attorney, Paul Vlachos.

The criminal complaint filed in federal court in Grand Rapids says Knoll had a small business that made racing fuel. But the Internal Revenue Service says Knoll's claims of buying hundreds of millions of gallons from refiners for a "private label" brand were false.

His first appearance in court is June 16.