Sandy man pays $100K in back taxes

A Sandy insurance company owner has paid back more than $100,000 after he was convicted of failing to pay taxes, the Utah Attorney General's Office said Friday.

Grant D. North, 55, was found guilty of two class A misdemeanors for failing to file tax returns and failing to pay taxes for four years, according to court records.

North reached an agreement with the state to pay off his taxes, penalties and interest.

"Our prosecutors and investigators for the Utah Tax Commission are keeping a close eye on people who are literally pickpocketing from Utah citizens who do pay their taxes," Attorney General Mark Shurtleff said in a statement.

North made more than $200,000 during 2002 and 2003 as the owner of GNG & Associates, court records state. He recently paid $38,000 to finish off paying restitution in the case.

Prosecutors have agreed to drop all new allegations and work with North to reduce his criminal record and ultimately expunge the charges.

"We try to work with all individuals, even those who may have been non-compliant at one point," said Tax Commission spokesman Charlie Roberts. "Our hope is, and always will be, to get people to pay their fair share of taxes."