08/08/2025
WE CAN SEE THE FEDS. FEDERAL INDICTMENTS COULD BE COMING SOON IN ST. LOUIS TOW LOT SCANDAL
ST. LOUIS — The tea is, we been know this. So much shady business. We have been talking about the city tow yard for years now, and the latest allegations of missing cash, unaccounted vehicles, and deep-rooted corruption have only confirmed what many in St. Louis have long suspected.
In May, newly sworn-in City Comptroller Donna Baringer revealed findings from an audit conducted by her predecessor. According to the audit, $80,000 in loose cash was left lying around in the tow lot offices before disappearing. The report also claimed $5 million worth of cars were unaccounted for, painting a damning picture of the city’s operations. Baringer referred the matter to federal investigators, fueling public expectations that criminal charges could follow.
Mayor Cara Spencer’s administration responded by halting the city’s vehicle auctions. When they resumed in June, auction operations had been outsourced to Voss Auction Services. New measures were implemented, including a ban on cash payments and a digital tracking system to monitor cars as they moved through the lot.
The $5 million figure, which came from an audit quietly posted to the city’s website in March, only began making headlines months later. While some questioned the accuracy of the claim, it intensified the tow lot’s reputation as a hub for shady dealings, with stolen cars allegedly being sold under the table. One city official even admitted he avoids the tow lot entirely, fearing any association with its long-standing reputation for corruption.
Federal investigators have yet to announce charges, but with the scope of the allegations and the amount of money involved, many in St. Louis believe it is only a matter of time before indictments are handed down.
