Puyallup Car Dealer's Manager Charged with Felony Theft for Stealing Sales Tax

Stanley J. Stevens, the former manager of Puyallup Truck & RV Sales, has been charged with felony theft for allegedly retaining over $131,000 in sales tax from vehicle sales that should have been submitted to the Washington Department of Revenue. The Attorney General’s Office initiated its investigation in 2021 after an audit revealed significant underreporting of revenue, including a reported gross income of only $6,500 against actual sales exceeding $1. 2 million in 2017. Stevens had previously faced legal issues, including a federal conviction for odometer fraud, and is suspected of recruiting his nephew as a "straw owner" to bypass licensing regulations.

The investigation uncovered that Stevens deposited nearly $1. 9 million into personal accounts while only reporting $27,000 in revenue to the state during the relevant timeframe. Customers reported irregularities, such as being charged a higher sales tax than the local rate, and some even wrote checks to an unregistered LLC associated with Stevens. A court summons has been issued for Stevens to enter a plea on January 31, and his attorney has not yet been identified in court records. The closure of Puyallup Truck & RV Sales in 2022 followed the revocation of its dealership license due to multiple compliance failures.

This case exemplifies the potential for significant financial abuse in the auto sales sector and raises questions about regulatory oversight.