Yacht broker gets 4 years for failure to pay sales tax

EVERETT, Wash. — Yacht broker Ronald J. Sperry was sentenced to four years in jail this week for failing to pay state sales taxes, the Puget Sound Business Journal reports.

The government said Sperry owed nearly $1 million in state business and occupation taxes and underreported commissions on yacht sales at Everett Yacht Sales and Hanan Yachts to lower taxes, according to the Business Journal.

Sperry pleaded guilty in November but was given time to make restitution of the $953,000 debt. However, he has only paid back $3,000 since then, according to the paper.

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