Eight Plead Guilty, Admit Nationwide Rental Car Theft Scheme

ST. LOUIS - The eighth and final defendant in a nationwide scheme that stole at least 19 rental cars worth about $1.1 million pleaded guilty Wednesday.

James E. McGhaney, 35, of New York, New York, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and three counts of wire fraud. The scheme's organizer, Tyrell A. Oliver, 40, pleaded guilty October 23 to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, three counts of wire fraud and three counts of aggravated identity theft.

Oliver, of Atlanta, Georgia, admitted organizing a scheme in which the conspirators reserved high-end rental vehicles, typically SUVs, using stolen credit card information and stolen identities. In addition to stealing vehicles for Oliver, McGhaney recruited and supervised some of the other participants in the scheme, his plea agreement says. The conspirators stole rental cars across the United States, including in Florida, Georgia and North Carolina. Often, McGhaney and other conspirators flew together in a group from New York to these locations, on airline tickets purchased by Oliver and McGhaney, and stole multiple vehicles in a single trip, their plea agreements say. Oliver then paid McGhaney and the group of thieves for stealing the rental cars.

In all, Oliver and his co-conspirators used the stolen identities of at least 23 victims to steal 19 rental vehicles worth about $1.1 million, Oliver's plea agreement says.

Steven B. Matthews, 40, of Atlanta, pleaded guilty to three counts of wire fraud. New York residents Shawnta B. Fonseca, 34, Reginald M. Glenn, 36, Marlique J. McGhaney, 34, and Daquasia M. Robinson, 33, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. Rashad Holder, 35, of New York, pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

McGhaney is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 19, 2025. Oliver is to be sentenced Feb. 6, 2025. The others will be sentenced between Dec. 10, 2024 and early February.

The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Clow is prosecuting the case.