Hazelwood Man Sentenced for Dark Web Rental Car Fraud Scheme

Theodore Brown, a 32-year-old from Hazelwood, was sentenced to four years in federal prison for a dark web identity theft scheme involving rental cars. He used stolen identities and credit card information purchased on the dark web to rent over 140 vehicles from a regional rental company, resulting in losses exceeding $800,000. Brown was part of a conspiracy that included a complicit rental car employee and other defendants, with vehicles often supplied to individuals involved in drug trafficking. He was ordered to pay $550,000 in restitution and will serve three years of supervised release after his prison term. The scheme was operational between September 2022 and February 2023, and Brown pleaded guilty to multiple charges in February 2026. The investigation was supported by the U.S. Secret Service and local police.

Key Points: • Theodore Brown was sentenced to four years for a dark web rental car fraud scheme. • He used stolen identities to rent over 140 vehicles, causing $800,000 in losses. • Brown is part of a larger conspiracy involving multiple defendants and a rental car employee.