LAFAYETTE – The co-owners of a used car dealership in Lafayette face felony charges for allegedly stealing thousands of dollars in state sales tax revenues.

Shawn Calvit and Michael Laue own and operate Lauco Auto Sales in Lafayette. Investigators with the Louisiana Department of Revenue say the two under reported the sales price of more than one hundred vehicles, shorted the state on sales taxes and pocketed the difference.

The investigation determined the value of the cars sold was more than $1 million, but Calvit and Laue reported gross sales of $146,000. They allegedly defrauded the states of an estimated $37,100 in sales taxes.

Both Calvit and Laue face felony charges of theft, failing to account for sales tax monies and injuring public records.

The Louisiana Used Motor Vehicle Commission assisted in the investigation.