A judge on Tuesday spared Michael Jackson's former general manager prison time after she tearfully admitted failing to file her taxes and blamed the failure on being overwhelmed with the late singer's affairs.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Alan Kay sentenced Raymone Bain to five years' probation and to pay $202,422 in back taxes to the IRS and District of Columbia for the 2006-2008 tax years.

Prosecutors said Bain was earning $30,000 a month as president and general manger of the Michael Jackson Co. during that time. They asked Kay to lock her up for a year and a half to show that tax scofflaws will be punished.

"It's important that the law-abiding taxpayers of the United States are not dupes for following the law," prosecutor Karen Kelly told the judge, also noting that Bain has yet to file returns for 2009 or 2010.

Bain pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to file returns — one for the IRS and one for the District of Columbia, where she ran a public relations firm from the basement of her home. She specialized in handling media relations for high profile clients, including tennis star Serena Williams, longtime Washington mayor and councilman Marion Barry and rhythm and blues vocal group Boyz II Men.

Her attorney said the criminal charges have damaged her business because clients don't want someone with her problems speaking on their behalf.