U.S. District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig has sentenced Ronald Johnson, 57, of St. Peters, to 33 months in prison for wire fraud involving vehicle-related scams. Johnson owned a car restoration business named Full Out Customs LLC and used social media platforms like Facebook to sell vehicles and offer repair services.
In one incident from 2022, Johnson defrauded a Pennsylvania buyer by selling them a 2002 Ford Excursion for $41,750 after already selling the same vehicle to a South Dakota buyer for $45,000. He provided the title to the South Dakota buyer but gave the SUV itself to the Pennsylvania victim, preventing them from legally registering it.
Between November 18, 2021, and January 31, 2022, he also obtained $149,843 from another individual under false pretenses of using it for vehicle repairs and parts. Additionally, between September and December of 2021, Johnson ordered welding equipment worth $47,088 without intending to pay for it by issuing a check from a closed account. The affected company managed to recover some of the equipment.
Johnson admitted to falsifying car titles and other documents related to repair work and vehicle ownership status. Judge Fleissig found that his actions were intended to cause financial losses amounting to $315,142 and ordered him to repay his victims.
The investigation was conducted by the St. Charles Police Department with Assistant U.S. Attorney Gwen Carroll prosecuting the case.