The female co-owner a law practice in Williamsburg is suspected of mail and wire fraud as a result of her participation in that Goodbye timeshare scheme. This scheme, according to federal court documents, saw Brendan Hawkins convicted of the same charge in December for which he received a sentence of three years and 10 months.
Wagner, along with others, is believed to have “targeted timeshare owners and resorts in the U.S obtained the timeshare units and transferred them into the names of straw owners — representatives for owners who do not want to reveal their identities but have no stake in the property. They are accused of then collecting transfer fees from the original owners and keeping the fees for themselves instead of giving them to the straw owners”.
It is reported that Hawkins’ Lawyer confirmed to the Court that his client hired Deborah Wagner from a Williamsburg law firm to help him conduct the timeshare transfer transactions. He plead that at the time of the said fraud, there was “no clear industry guidance” regulating timeshare transfers to individuals.
Another man, Keith Kosco is due to be sentenced on the 13th July 2015 after being investigated by the FBI. The investigation revealed that he conducted over 1,000 fraudulent timeshare transfers. Kosco plead guilty to transferring the units into the names of stole identities.
Although it is reported that Court documents show that the scheme was ceased when Legislation was passed to regulate the industry in 2013, 2 people have been charged and sentenced to time in prison and have received fines for their participation in the Goodbye Timeshare con.
The fate of Deborah Wagner is yet to be sealed as a Hearing date has not yet been confirmed.
The Time Timeshare Consumer Association is a not for profit organisation. It has extensive costs in supporting timeshare Consumers and as such, we rely upon the generosity of individuals, communities and businesses so as to provide a continuation of the free services that we offer.
For more information regarding this article or assistance in any other timeshare related issues please contact the TCA on 01908 881058 or email: info@TimeshareConsumerAssociation.org.uk