Two women originally from Swansea were sentenced in federal court to prison time for tax fraud.

Darcus Richardson-Ward, 36, and Angela Williams, 37, were convicted of conspiracy to defraud the United States and several counts of filing false federal income tax returns, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen R. Wigginton.

Richardson-Ward was sentenced on Friday to 18 months in prison and Williams to 13 months in prison. The court ordered both women, who now live in Lenexa, Kan., to pay criminal restitution in the amount of $87,113.

"Tax cheats steal from every honest citizen in Southern Illinois. As I have said before, I will not tolerate these thefts and I will use the power of my office to appropriately punish those who steal from us," Wigginton said.