U.S. District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig has sentenced Tyrell A. Oliver, 40, from Atlanta, Georgia, to 90 months in prison for organizing a scheme that stole $1.17 million worth of rental cars nationwide. Oliver is also required to repay the stolen amount.
Oliver's operation involved reserving luxury rental vehicles using stolen credit card information and identities. He and others would then collect the cars by assuming these identities and presenting false driver's licenses and counterfeit credit cards at rental locations.
The scheme began in August 2021 when Oliver attempted to steal three rental vehicles. On his third attempt, staff suspected fraud, leading to his arrest 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 the case. He paid co-conspirators to travel across the country, including Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina, to steal cars on his behalf.
Oliver's plea agreement states that he and his accomplices used at least 23 stolen identities to steal 19 rental vehicles.
In October, Oliver pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, three counts of wire fraud, and three counts of aggravated identity theft. James E. McGhaney, 36, from New York City, also pleaded guilty to related charges and is set for sentencing on February 19.
Other participants included Steven B. Matthews from Atlanta; Shawnta B. Fonseca; Reginald M. Glenn; Marlique J. McGhaney; Daquasia M. Robinson; and Rashad Holder from New York City—all pleading guilty to various charges related to the scheme.
Holder received a sentence of 65 months in December with an order to repay $581,711. Marlique McGhaney was sentenced to just over a year with restitution of $237,447 mandated. Matthews was sentenced to two years with an order for repayment of $107,072 while Glenn received a sentence of 13 months in prison.
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.
