Investigators say Ward would identify vehicles he believed could be resold at a profit and approach the owners directly. Once the vehicles were purchased, they were titled through a Montana-based shell company to take advantage of that state’s lack of sales tax. The Minnesota Department of Revenue estimates that 34 vehicle sales tied to Minnesota should have generated about $350,745 in taxes. He is charged separately with felony motor vehicle tax evasion and a misdemeanor count of brokering motor vehicles without a license. Authorities say Ward did not hold a Minnesota dealer or broker license during the period covered by the charges.