United States and State of Wisconsin Obtain Over $140M Judgment and Permanent Injunction Against Operator of Deceptive Timeshare Exit Services Aimed at Elderly Consumers

# Federal Court Orders $140M Judgment Against Timeshare Exit Scheme Operator

The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri granted summary judgment against Christopher Lee Carroll for operating a deceptive timeshare exit services scheme that victimized over 11,000 consumers. The court found Carroll was the "mastermind" behind the unlawful operation and permanently enjoined him from marketing timeshare exit services and engaging in deceptive trade practices.

Carroll and his co-defendants charged victims between $5,000 and $80,000 through companies including Square One Group LLC and Consumer Law Protection LLC, falsely promising to release them from timeshare contracts. The defendants frequently failed to deliver services, withheld information about three-day cancellation rights, and denied refunds when consumers complained.

The Department of Justice and State of Wisconsin secured a combined judgment exceeding $140 million, with Carroll ordered to pay over $95 million in consumer restitution and more than $45 million in civil penalties. Seventeen other defendants previously received permanent injunctions, while four individual defendants agreed to stipulated orders requiring over $11 million in collective monetary penalties.