Patrick A. Watriss

The government has filed an ,adversary complaint, in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Denver against Patrick A. Watriss, owner of now-defunct Unitel Inc., a computer services company.According to a release from the Department of Labor, the complaint claims Watriss failed to remit to the plan the contributions that the company withheld from employees, paychecks from March 2003 through January 2004.

Unitel closed in early 2005, and Watriss later filed for personal bankruptcy protection, according to the Department of Labor.The Department of Labor,s action seeks to prevent Watriss from having the $2,000 debt discharged.

In an interview, Watriss said contributions to the plan were missed because the company was struggling financially.He said he plans to pay back the money.

,I will honor the obligation,, he said.

Watriss said the delinquency to the retirement plan was as high as $20,000 at one point, and he worked with the Department of Labor to bring it down to about $2,000.He said about 10 Unitel employees participated in the plan.

Patrick Watriss, the owner of the company, subsequently filed for personal bankruptcy.

Patrick A. Watriss, CEO