An extensive car theft scheme involving high-end rental vehicles has come to a close as the final member of an eight-person conspiracy entered a guilty plea in U.S. District Court in St. Louis. James E. McGhaney, 35, from New York, New York, admitted to his part in a plot that lifted at least 19 rental cars valued at approximately $1.1 million.
McGhaney’s charges include one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud alongside three counts of wire fraud,
according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office
. The orchestrator of the theft ring, Tyrell A. Oliver, 40, from Atlanta, Georgia pleaded guilty previously on October 23, accepting charges tied to wire fraud conspiracy, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft.
Conspirators executed the scheme by reserving luxury SUVs using stolen credit card information and identities. McGhaney, in addition to his role in the car thefts, was responsible for recruiting and leading other members of this fraudulent operation. Their method involved flying in groups to various states such as Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina, where they executed the theft of multiple vehicles in single raids, utilizing airline tickets purchased with illicit funds.
It was revealed that Oliver and his group utilized the stolen identities of no fewer than 23 victims. Other members of the collective, including New York residents Shawnta B. Fonseca, 34, Reginald M. Glenn, 36, Marlique J. McGhaney, 34, and Daquasia M. Robinson, 33, pleaded guilty to wire fraud. Rashad Holder, 35, also from New York, admitted to wire fraud conspiracy, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Sentencings are slated between December 10, 2024, and early February, with McGhaney’s scheduled for Feb. 19, 2025, and Oliver’s on Feb. 6, 2025.
The investigation, led by the FBI, culminates a case monitoring the thefts across the United States. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Clow is prosecuting, aiming to close this chapter of organized crime that leveraged technology and the anonymity of big cities to orchestrate a series of complex thefts. Complete details on the case can be found in the official press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
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