There’s an episode of “Seinfeld” where Kramer and Newman try to pull off a legendary scam . . . by driving a bunch of cans to Michigan to return them for 10 cents each.

That’s the best rate in the country . . . but it’s only supposed to go toward cans and bottles that you buy IN Michigan, since you pay that deposit when you buy them.

Well . . . some guy just tried to pull off the “Seinfeld” Michigan deposit scam for REAL. And just like Kramer and Newman, he failed spectacularly.

44-year-old Brian Everidge of Columbiaville, Michigan rented a truck and brought more than 10,000 bottles into Michigan.

Well, it turns out that anyone who gets caught trying to return more than 10,000 bottles from out-of-state can be charged with a FELONY. And that can get you up to five years in prison.

A cop pulled Brian over for speeding in April, and found all the bottles in his car. He was just in court this week, and pleaded not guilty to one felony count of beverage return of non-refundable bottles.