Utahn indicted on tax charges

A Sandy man has been indicted on charges that he failed to pay about $7.5 million in payroll taxes to the IRS.

A federal grand jury Wednesday returned an indictment against Richard R. Whatley, 51. He is charged with five counts of willful failure to pay taxes. Each count carries a maximum penalty of up to five years in federal prison.

According to the charges, Whatley had ownership interest in four employee leasing companies: Advanced Payroll Solutions, American Employment Group, Alliance Staffing Management and Intermountain Consulting Group. Prosecutors allege Whatley withheld taxes for leased employees but failed to pay the taxes to the IRS between 2001 and 2006.

— Geoffrey Fattah