OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A former Omaha computer engineer who says he hasn’t filed federal individual income tax returns since 2000 is on trial for three charges of tax evasion.

The case against 59-year-old Chet Lee West, of Nebo, North Carolina, began Wednesday. If convicted, West faces up to 15 years in prison and a $750,000 fine.

West, who is representing himself, says he’s exempt from paying income taxes, and he told that to Infocrossing Inc. in Omaha while he worked there from 2007 until 2009.

Federal prosecutor Donald J. Kleine says West failed to pay more than $52,800 in income taxes over the two-year period in which he earned more than $270,000. Kleine also says the IRS told West in 2007 that he wasn’t exempt from income taxes.