S. Jordan tax preparer charged with felonies

Felony charges were filed last week against a South Jordan tax preparer who investigators say withheld payroll taxes for his clients' employees and misrepresented what he had done with the money.

David Leo Bankhead, 51, was charged with second- and third-degree counts of tax evasion; unlawful dealing by a fiduciary, a second-degree felony; communications fraud, a second-degree felony; and a pattern of unlawful activity, also a second-degree felony.

Bankhead operated an accounting and tax preparation service called Professional Business Accounting LLC, according to the Utah State Tax Commission.

On top of the payroll tax allegations, Bankhead also is accused of creating and issuing false W-2 forms to victims after scamming more than $58,536 of their payroll taxes between 2002 and 2007, the tax commission said in a press release.

Bankhead owes the state more than $125,000 in payroll taxes, penalties and interest, tax commission spokesman Charlie Roberts said.

— Ethan Thomas