Ronald J. Sperry.Everett yacht broker was sentenced to four years in prison Thursday after pleading guilty to tax fraud

Everett yacht broker was sentenced to four years in prison Thursday after pleading guilty to tax fraud resulting in nearly $1 million in unpaid taxes.Ronald J. Sperry, former vice commodore with the Everett Yacht Club, had operated Everett Yacht sales and Hanan Yachts until his arrest.In a statement, a state Department of Revenue spokesperson said Sperry, 60, failed to correctly report his commissions or pay all sales taxes, resulting in a loss to the state of $953,000. He pleaded guilty to fraud charges in November, but was not sentenced until now in an effort to allow him to repay his debt. During that time, though, Sperry repaid only about $3,000, the spokesperson said, prompting Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Larry McKeeman to reject Sperry's request for additional time. At sentencing, the spokesperson said, McKeeman ordered that Sperry turn over at least 40 percent of his future pay to the state until his debts were paid. The judge allowed Sperry to turn himself in to the Department of Corrections by the end of April to allow him to resolve unspecified health concerns.The state Attorney General's Office and the Department of Revenue investigated the case.