Jail Time in a Timeshare Scam

Last November, the Timeshare Owners Blog reported on the arrest of Dennis Drummond. In the summer of 2007, Drummond was picked up on a fugitive warrant in North Carolina and was then extradited to Massachusetts, where he faced multiple counts of larceny. Dennis Drummond has faced charges in MA in 1990, 2003, and 2005, each time on charges related to timeshare fraud.

The former resident of Plymouth, Drummond was accused of a timeshare scam involving more than 80 people. According to police, Drummond would set up real estate offices and offer (for a fee) to exchange people’s timeshare units for better weeks or vacations at better timeshare resorts.

Last Wednesday, Drummond pleaded guilty to three charges of larceny over $250; larceny over $250 involving a person over the age of 60; and larceny over $250 in a single scam. Drummond was sentenced to 2 and a half years in jail, but will only serve 10 more months. He is also required to make restitution to his victims.

Elderly Can Be Targeted in Timeshare Scams

One particularly sad account in this timeshare scam is the story of the Doucettes. Janice Doucette told the court that in 2002, she and her husband gave Drummond $25,000 and the deed for two of their three timeshare weeks, but that they never received anything in return. As Doucette explained, her husband Charles is now 79 years of age and receiving kidney dialysis in a nursing home. Doucette blames Drummond for ruining the golden years of her marriage.

While Drummond’s sentence may seem light, if he fails to make restitution, or is arrested again, he could then be sentenced to up to five years in state prison.

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