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ST. GEORGE, Utah (AP) -- It wasn't very friendly. Investigators with the Motor Vehicle Enforcement Division and the state Tax Commission have closed down the Friendly Motors car lot in St. George after charging its former manager with felony identity theft.
Investigators also say they have discovered 42 vehicles that have been sold by the lot without delivering the titles and registrations. The total worth of those sales is estimated at $400,000.
Charlie Roberts, a spokesman for the Utah State Tax Commission, says more charges could be filed pending the end of the investigation.
No charges have been filed against the lot's owner, who is cooperating with investigators. Owner Tom Vowell says he fired manager Michael Caplin once he figured out there were problems. Caplin has been charged with one count of identity theft, a second-degree felony.
Information from: The Spectrum
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
