Four individuals, including three former employees of vehicle and driver license offices in Missouri, have confessed to fraudulently registering motor vehicles. Gary Wilds, 48, pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court in St. Louis to multiple charges, including conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and making false statements.
The other defendants are Ashlyn Graeff, 39; Megan Leone, 42; and Michelle Boyer, 53. Graeff admitted guilt on March 5, 2024, to making false statements. Leone pleaded guilty on December 11, 2024, to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and making a false statement. Boyer entered her plea on May 21 for conspiracy charges.
Wilds operated Pinnacle Concierge, a business assisting customers with vehicle registration through the Missouri Department of Revenue. He acknowledged bribing license office employees to falsify records indicating vehicles passed inspections and taxes were paid when they were not. This included submitting forged documents for sales tax exemptions.
Some clients of Wilds were aware their vehicles could not pass emissions tests or had other legal issues preventing registration but still engaged his services knowing he would use deceitful methods. Unaware customers faced financial repercussions as Wilds underreported taxes due.
Boyer’s involvement with Wilds began in a contract licensing office in 2015. Leone started collaborating with him before she joined a St. Charles County licensing office in 2017 as a title clerk. Promoted later to manager, Leone instructed Graeff—who joined the office in 2018—to complete fraudulent registrations for Wilds’ clients.
Graeff was compensated $100 per transaction by Wilds and conducted numerous fraudulent registrations daily at one point. Her actions resulted in significant state tax revenue loss amounting to $84,154.96.
Leone will be sentenced on July 24 while Boyer’s sentencing is set for August 21. Graeff received four years of probation and must pay restitution totaling $84,554 following her sentencing on July 17, 2024.
Wilds faces sentencing on September 2 with potential penalties including up to two decades in prison for conspiracy and wire fraud charges plus fines up to $250,000 each or both imprisonment and fines. False statement charges carry up to five years’ imprisonment alongside similar financial penalties while each aggravated identity theft charge entails an additional two-year sentence served consecutively.
The investigation was conducted by the Missouri Department of Revenue along with the FBI under the prosecution of Assistant U.S Attorney Tracy Berry.
