WILMINGTON — A 49-year-old Harrington woman pleaded guilty Tuesday to intentionally failing to pay employment taxes on behalf of a local business, U.S. Attorney David C. Weiss announced.

According to court documents, Sara Collins served as corporate secretary of a plumbing, heating and air-conditioning business for more than 20 years. She was responsible for overseeing payroll disbursement and filing tax documents on behalf of the business.

Beginning in the first quarter of 2013 through the last quarter of 2019, Collins failed to file quarterly forms with the IRS and paid fewer than $37,000 in payroll taxes for the six-year period, a news release said. In total, Collins failed to pay over $930,000 owed to the IRS by the business, it continued.

Collins pleaded guilty to five counts of willful failure to pay taxes and faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison for each count when sentenced Nov. 17. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties, Mr. Weiss said.

U.S. District Court Judge Leonard P. Stark accepted the plea. He will determine any sentence after taking into account sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.