ATLANTA – Jess Kinmont and John P. Wenz, Jr. have been sentenced for operating a timeshare resale scam business that affected more than 8,000 victims nationwide, many of them elderly. The victims lost more than $18 million based on the defendants’ false promises that they could help timeshare owners sell or rent their timeshare properties.
“The defendants monetized their clients’ trust to commit a multi-state fraud scheme that enabled them to steal millions of dollars from more than 8,000 victims, including many seniors who were particularly misled by the defendants’ false promises,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Kinmont and Wenz solicited hefty up-front fees based on fraudulent representations that they would sell and rent the victims’ timeshare properties. Their sentences demonstrate that federal law enforcement will not cease to prosecute those who commit fraud of this type.”
“For years, Kinmont and Wentz ran the scam without once selling a timeshare interest, only a series of lies,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Exploitation like this has a crippling effect on victims. The FBI and our partners will continue to pursue financial fraudsters who exploit anyone for personal and financial gain.”
“Kinmont and Wenz deserve their time in federal prison for deceiving elderly Americans trying to get out of timeshares” said Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “Kinmont and Wenz lined their pockets by scamming...
A new study published in PLOS One sheds light on how people respond to health-related disinformation on social media. The research suggests that people who enjoy thinking critically and analytical...