Walser Automotive agrees to pay $490K after tax evasion charge

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — Walser Automotive Group agreed to pay $490,000 on Aug. 13 to avoid a tax evasion charge. 

Prosecutors said car brokers William Ward and Walser Automotive set up a Montana LLC because Montana does not charge motor vehicle sales tax. Prosecutors said Walser Automotive wired funds to Ward to purchase a new car under the shell company. Then, Walser's pre-owned branch would take the car, label it used, and sell it to a buyer Ward already had lined up. 

This deal allegedly went on for more than three years, racking up more than $350,000 in evaded motor vehicle sales taxes....