St. Louis, MO – James E. McGhaney, 35, of New York City, became the eighth and final defendant to plead guilty in connection with a nationwide rental car theft scheme that stole 19 high-end vehicles valued at approximately $1.1 million. McGhaney pleaded guilty on Wednesday in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and three counts of wire fraud, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri announced.
McGhaney’s guilty plea follows that of Tyrell A. Oliver, 40, who was identified as the organizer of the scheme. Oliver pleaded guilty on October 23 to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, three counts of wire fraud, and three counts of aggravated identity theft.
Oliver orchestrated a scheme in which McGhaney and other conspirators used stolen credit card information and identities to reserve luxury rental vehicles, primarily SUVs, from various rental agencies across the country. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, McGhaney not only participated in the thefts but also recruited and supervised other participants in the operation.
The conspirators targeted rental car locations in Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina, using stolen identities from at least 23 victims. During these thefts, the conspirators frequently flew from New York to these states, with Oliver and McGhaney purchasing the airline tickets. Once in the targeted cities, they would steal the rental cars and transport them across state lines.
In total, the scheme resulted in the theft of 19 vehicles, which included high-end SUVs, with an estimated value of $1.1 million. As part of their plea agreements, McGhaney and the other defendants admitted to using the stolen identities to carry out the thefts and defraud rental agencies across the U.S.
Other defendants involved in the case who have already pleaded guilty include:
- Steven B. Matthews, 40, of Atlanta, who pleaded guilty to three counts of wire fraud.
- Shawnta B. Fonseca, 34, Reginald M. Glenn, 36, Marlique J. McGhaney, 34, and Daquasia M. Robinson, 33, all of New York, who each pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud.
- Rashad Holder, 35, also of New York, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft.
The sentencing dates for McGhaney and Oliver are scheduled for February 2025. McGhaney’s sentencing is set for February 19, 2025, while Oliver will be sentenced on February 6, 2025. The other defendants in the case will be sentenced between December 2024 and early February 2025.
The case highlights the growing issue of identity theft and wire fraud, with criminals targeting both individuals and businesses to facilitate large-scale thefts. Federal authorities are continuing to investigate similar fraud schemes and are urging the public to be cautious of identity theft scams.
