Florida Criminal Attorney Blog
Investigators claim more than a dozen people, possibly more, have been bilked out of thousands of dollars related to an alleged timeshare scam in Ormond Beach.
The investigation began in January after the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by the Hillsborough County Consumer Protection Agency, which claims they had received complaints about a company selling timeshares.
People that wanted to sell their timeshares apparently sent money to the company through wire transfers. Police claim the money was picked up in Volusia County, but the alleged victims never heard anything from the company again.
A 45-year-old Ormond Beach woman was allegedly identified by police as the person who had picked up 15 of the wire transfers.
The Ormond Beach Police Department was apparently investigating the woman and combined forces with the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office to complete the investigation.
A 39-year-old Ormond Beach woman was also investigated by the two agencies for her alleged involvement in the scheme. She was arrested a month ago and accused of two counts of grand theft.
Police claim that during an interview she admitted to the fraud scheme. She allegedly told investigators she was provided with “lead sheets” that contained information about potential victims, and she would call them to offer to sell their timeshares.
The women would allegedly tell people how much money to send for nonexistent services and how to send it through a wire transfer.
The pair apparently picked up the wire transfers together. The 45-year-old woman was allegedly the one that actually had to collect the cash because the other woman was apparently banned from using Western Union.
Police believe the 39-year-old woman gave the 45-year-old woman 5 percent to 20 percent of the payment.
The 45-year-old woman was arrested this week on charges of organized scheme to defraud and five counts of grand theft.
The 39-year-old woman is now facing two counts of theft from a person 65 or older, six counts of obtaining property by fraud and four counts of grand theft in addition to the charges filed last month.
Federal and state government agencies are cracking down more than ever on timeshare fraud violators. Prosecutors tend to show little mercy on those accused of timeshare fraud, making the need for a criminal defense lawyer extremely vital. To successfully defend yourself against fraud accusations, you often need to deal with a large and complicated investigation that may have been constructed over several months or possibly years by government investigators. An effective defense is an absolute necessity when facing such a serious situation.
Courts take fraud charges quite seriously and a conviction often results in jail time and other consequences. Dealing with these charges can be overwhelming and stressful as you may not fully realize the extent of your case. Understanding the charges against you can prepare you for what to expect in court. You do have rights and options in defending your case. The Florida Fraud Defense Attorneys at Whittel & Melton can help you face your criminal charges properly, so that you can move forward with your case and your life.