East Twin Cities

Washington County Attorney Pete Orput filed felony charges recently against Derek Michael Chauvin and Kellie May Chauvin, both of Oakdale, for numerous tax code violations.

The suit follows complaints filed by the Minnesota Department of Revenue (DOR) and the Oakdale Police Department. DOR investigators began examining the Chauvins, both of whom live and work in Minnesota, in June for failure to file taxes, late-filed and fraudulent tax returns dating from 2014 to 2019. The complaints allege that they failed to pay state income taxes, misstated and underpaid taxes on employment-generated income, and did not pay appropriate sales tax on a vehicle purchased within the state.

"When you fail to fulfill the basic obligation to file and pay taxes, you are taking money from the pockets of citizens of Minnesota," Orput said in a release issued by the attorney's office. "Our office has and will continue to file these charges when presented. Whether you are a prosecutor or police officer, or you are doctor or a realtor, no one is above the law."