Consumer Law Protection; Square One Development Group Inc.; Christopher Carroll

The court granted summary judgment against Carroll, ordering $95 million in consumer redress and a $45 million civil penalty. Carroll was permanently banned from advertising, marketing, or offering timeshare exit services, and from engaging in deceptive door-to-door sales. The case was brought by the DOJ on behalf of the FTC and the state of Wisconsin.

A federal court ordered Christopher Carroll, a key operator of a timeshare exit scheme, to pay $140 million ($95 million in consumer redress and $45 million civil penalty) and permanently banned him from marketing similar services. The scheme defrauded consumers — mostly older adults — out of more than $90 million through deceptive timeshare exit services.

The scheme, operating as Consumer Law Protection, Premier Reservations Group, and other entities, used direct mail and in-person presentations to pressure consumers into paying for timeshare exit services. They falsely claimed association with timeshare companies, told consumers they couldn't exit timeshares without paying exorbitant fees, failed to provide promised refunds, and forced consumers to sign contracts they were told couldn't be canceled — violating the FTC's Cooling-Off Rule.