U.S. District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig has sentenced Tyrell A. Oliver to 90 months in prison for orchestrating a nationwide rental car theft scheme that resulted in the theft of vehicles valued at $1.17 million. Oliver, 40, from Atlanta, Georgia, must also repay the stolen amount.
Oliver devised a plan using stolen credit card information and identities to reserve luxury rental cars. He and his associates would assume these stolen identities, presenting false driver's licenses and counterfeit credit cards to collect the vehicles.
The scheme began in August 2021 when Oliver attempted to steal three rental cars. On his third attempt, staff suspected fraud, leading Oliver to flee before being arrested while trying to board a flight back to Atlanta. Despite this arrest, Oliver expanded his operation by recruiting others “to do his dirty work,” according to a sentencing memo filed in court. He paid co-conspirators to travel across the country, including Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina airports, to steal cars on his behalf.
In total, Oliver and his accomplices used the identities of at least 23 victims to steal 19 rental vehicles as stated in Oliver's plea agreement.
Oliver pleaded guilty in October to charges including one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, three counts of wire fraud, and three counts of aggravated identity theft. James E. McGhaney from New York also pleaded guilty for similar charges and is set for sentencing on February 19.
Other individuals involved include Steven B. Matthews from Atlanta who pleaded guilty to three counts of wire fraud; Shawnta B. Fonseca, Reginald M. Glenn, Marlique J. McGhaney, and Daquasia M. Robinson from New York who each pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud; Rashad Holder who was convicted of wire fraud conspiracy along with other charges.
Holder received a sentence of 65 months in December with an order for restitution amounting to $581,711. Marlique McGhaney was sentenced to just over a year with restitution set at $237,447; Matthews received a 24-month sentence with $107,072 repayment ordered; Glenn was sentenced for 13 months while Fonseca and Robinson are awaiting sentencing scheduled for March.
The FBI conducted the investigation into this case with Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Clow prosecuting.