LAFAYETTE - A Lafayette used car dealer has been charged with a tax fraud scheme that caused the state to lose thousands of dollars in sales tax revenue, the Louisiana Department of Revenue reported Monday.

Larry Dwayne Brown, owner of LA Auto Sales in Lafayette, underreported the sale price of several vehicles and pocketed the difference.

He allegedly defrauded the state of an estimated $20,000.

In addition to the tax fraud scheme, Brown has not filed a personal state income tax return since 2003.

Brown was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on Thursday, Apr. 14 on charges of theft, penalty for failure to file and criminal penalty for failing to account for state tax monies.

The Louisiana Used Motor Vehicle Commission assisted with the investigation.