A farmer who illegally avoided paying expressway tolls worth almost 4 million yuan (604,202 U.S. dollars) using fake military passes was sentenced to life in prison in central China's Henan Province, according to a local court Tuesday.

Shi Jianfeng was convicted of fraud for evading expressway tolls reaching 3.68 million yuan between May, 2008 and January, 2009, read the court verdict of Pingdingshan Municipal Intermediate People's Court.

Shi purchased fake military uniforms and license plates and hired others to drive two vehicles transporting sand. Tollgate records show that Shi avoided payment 2,362 times, said prosecutors of Pingdingshan Municipal People's Procuratorate.

Also, the court ruled that Shi's political rights were deprived for life. He was fined 2 million yuan and his illegal revenues were confiscated, according to the court verdict.

Shi said in court that he earned over 200,000 yuan in sand transportation. Shi did not hire a lawyer.

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