Rick Jones exits the federal courthouse in Benton after sentencing. He remains free on bond and does not have to report to the Federal Bureau of Prisons until Oct. 22.
Prosecutors exit the courthouse.
BENTON -- U.S. District Judge Phil Gilbert sentenced former Triad Industries owner Ricki Jones of Wood River to 15 months in prison for income tax evasion on July 30.
Gilbert could have tripled the sentence under federal guidelines, but he took into account Jones' cooperation in current criminal investigations.
Jones's lawyer, James Martin of St. Louis, pleaded for probation but Gilbert said, "That's not in the cards."
Gilbert said to Jones, "What kind of message would it send if I put you on probation? It would send a terrible message."