EVERETT — A former Everett yacht broker who bilked the government out of nearly $950,000 tried on Wednesday to convince a judge that society would benefit more if he was working instead of sitting in a prison cell.
Ronald J. Sperry, 60, apologized for stealing and acknowledged he was facing punishment. Sperry also told Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Larry McKeeman he has been embarrassed and humiliated since being charged with one count of theft and 16 counts of filing a false tax return.
“Certainly, I don’t want to go to prison. I would like to take care of my obligations,” Sperry said. “I need to rectify what I did. Sitting in prison all day, reading books, doesn’t do anything for me.”
He outlined his plans to earn up to $30,000 in the next few weeks. He is selling boats and is close to closing a big sale, he told the judge.
And Sperry maintained that was just the tip of the iceberg. He expected to make even more money over the summer when boat sales generally pick up.
McKeeman sentenced Sperry to four years behind bars. The judge said Sperry’s thievery caused substantial harm to the public.
“This was a crime of significant magnitude,” McKeeman said.
Sperry admitted he failed to remit nearly $353,000 in sales tax he collected from late 2004 through 2007 on sales of yachts through his businesses, Everett Yacht Sales and Hanan Yachts.
He reported about $5.5 million in sales to the Department of Licensing but less than a quarter of that to the Department of Revenue, according to court documents. He pocketed the sales tax paid to him by customers of the yachts he sold, and was under-reporting the 10 percent commissions he made on those sales, which are subject to business and occupation tax.
Sperry, once vice commodore of the Everett Yacht Club, was given the opportunity to reduce his jail sentence. The former Lynnwood police officer could have spent as little as two months on work release if he had paid back the money he owed.
Sperry has only given back a few thousand dollars, Assistant Attorney General Scott Marlow said.
Marlow argued for a lengthier prison term, saying Sperry stole money that could have paid for police officers, art supplies for children or other government-funded programs.
Marlow said Sperry has painted himself as a victim but taxpayers are the ones who suffered.
Sperry pleaded guilty to a separate theft charge on Wednesday. He admitted he floated a bad check in 2007 for more than $70,000. He was ordered to pay back the money.
McKeeman agreed to let Sperry delay entering prison until the end of April. Sperry needs to take care of some health issues, his attorney Thomas Cox said. He also will be able to pay on some of his debt, Cox said.
The judge ordered Sperry to turn over at least 40 percent of his paycheck to the state. He also is prohibited from leaving the state and has surrendered his passport to his attorney.
Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463, hefley@heraldnet.com.
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