US Court Orders $140M Judgment Against Timeshare Scam Targeting Over 11,000 Consumers
The U.S. District Court in Missouri granted summary judgment against Christopher Lee Carroll, identifying him as the mastermind of a fraudulent timeshare exit operation. The scheme exploited over 11,000 consumers, many of whom were elderly, using deceptive sales tactics. The court permanently barred Carroll from marketing timeshare exit services and engaging in unfair trade practices. It also imposed over $140 million in financial penalties, consisting of $95 million to compensate victims and $45 million in civil fines. This ruling underscores the Department of Justice's commitment to combating consumer fraud, particularly scams targeting vulnerable populations. The judgment aims to provide restitution... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 01 Apr 2026 17:33
US to Close National Center for Disaster Fraud by 2026 Amid Changing Fraud Detection Methods
The U.S. Department of Justice revealed plans to shut down the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) by the end of March 2026. Formed in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the NCDF handled more than one million complaints related to disaster fraud across the country and served as a central hub for forwarding cases to various law enforcement agencies. The closure decision stems from a 2023 program review that concluded the center's intake function has become less necessary. This shift owes partly to many partner agencies establishing their own dedicated disaster fraud hotlines, reducing the need for a... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 31 Mar 2026 18:33
Italian Arms Dealer Pleads Guilty to Smuggling $540,000 of US Ammunition to Russia via Kyrgyzstan
Italian national Manfred Gruber admitted to conspiring to illegally export over $540,000 worth of ammunition from the United States to Kyrgyzstan. Using companies controlled in Italy, Gruber facilitated the shipment which was then largely reexported to Russia, circumventing U.S. export restrictions. This smuggling operation contributed to the Russian war effort against Ukraine. The guilty plea was issued before U.S. Magistrate Judge Taryn A. Merkl in the Eastern District of New York. Gruber’s co-conspirator based in Kyrgyzstan, Sergei Zharnovnikov, was previously sentenced to 39 months in prison in January 2026 for similar violations. Authorities say the illegal exports extended the deadly... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 30 Mar 2026 22:51
