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Licensing office shut down for fraud

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Customers were still showing up at the Quik Stop licensing office in University Place on Friday, only to find it shut down -- and locked up, after the Pierce county auditor's office accused the owners of fraud.

Auditor Julie Anderson's office seized records and closed the office on Wednesday after an investigation uncovered what she called fraudulent licenses handed out by Quik Stop since at least 2008. Anderson said Quik Stop employees would register some vehicles to a fake address in rural Thurston county.

Those customers then didn’t have to pay Pierce County's taxes for transit or to get an emissions test, as well as avoiding other fees.

“The employees were using the addresses, they were using them on behalf of customers, friends, family,” said Anderson.Longtime customers of Quik Stop were surprised to hear about the allegations.“This was the place I always went to and told my friends to go to,” said Casey Williams.

“You just walked in and got your tabs. They didn’t ask you any questions.Now I see why,” Williams said.

“Yeah they were really great,” added Michelle Moran. "Everybody there was happy and really nice. They had animals running around. It was pretty nice.”

Anderson said evidence has been turned over to law enforcement for consideration of possible criminal charges.

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