(CBS) – The owner of a Michigan liquor store is accused of committing bottle return fraud at his Mt. Morris store.

Namir Shango, 34, of Davison, was charged with false pretenses, with a fine of $50,000 to $100,000 and a sentence of 15 years.

The Michigan Attorney General’s Office alleges that Shango created fake deposit return invoices at his store, Valley Liquor, to appear as though they were generated by his in-store deposit return machine. He then submitted the fake deposit return invoices to his store’s soft drink distributor to obtain fraudulent credits for shipments he had received.

“Michigan’s bottle deposit program is designed to encourage recycling efforts, and the state needs business owners who act with integrity to achieve those goals,” Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a statement. “Defrauding business partners and exploiting a popular state program for self-enrichment will not be tolerated, and my department will hold fraudsters accountable.”

“Fraudulent deposit scams like this one harm businesses and the state of Michigan, and ultimately reduce the funds intended to protect our environment,” said Col. James F. Grady II, director of the Michigan State Police, who led the investigation. “We are committed to uncovering and stopping these crimes.”

Shango is due back in court on August 29 to hear probable cause.