Jury selection begins in tax-fraud trial

Jury selection began Monday in what is expected to be a three-week federal trial for two men accused of running a tax fraud scheme that hid more than $60 million in offshore bank accounts, concealing more than $20 million in taxes due to the IRS.

Attorney Dennis B. Evanson of Sandy and investment broker Wayne F. DeMeester of Sammamish, Wash., were indicted along with four other men on charges of conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud.

Federal prosecutors claim that between 1996 and 2005 the group created a tax shelter service the involved creating false tax claims and shipping client funds to the Cayman Islands. The operation earned the group millions in service fees.

Four other men: attorney Graham R. Taylor of Tiburon, Calif., accountants Stephen F. Peterson of Coalville, Utah, Reed H. Barker of Littleton, Colo., and Brent H. Metcalf of Cottonwood heights, Utah, have all accepted plea deals.