By AP/KWMU
St. Louis – The manager of a St. Louis towing company has pleaded not guilty to federal charges of defrauding vehicle owners, rental car companies, banks and a credit union for more than four years.
Gregory Shepard of St. Louis Metropolitan Towing is the only person charged so far in the case.
Attorney David Harlan said last week that he's confident a jury will acquit Shepard.
St. Louis Metropolitan Towing is at the center of a scandal in which city police officers and former chief Joe Mokwa's daughter were allowed to drive impounded cars for free, or buy them at reduced prices.
Mokwa was forced to retire last year.