Original Message:
Second raid by SWAT Team in Orlando .... Upfront Fee Timeshare Resale scam company (by R P.):
This should get the message out loud and clear .... if this doesn't scare the bejeejus out of the scammers, nothing will.
SWAT Team Raids Building In Timeshares Bust 3 In Jail After Timeshare Business Raided Three people accused of running a bogus timeshare office in Orlando are being held in jail Thursday. (02/03/11)
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Two people accused of running a bogus timeshare office in Orlando are being held in jail Thursday.
SWAT officers raided Time Share Express in the 2000-block of S. Hiawassee Road (see map) in Veranda Park Wednesday in reference to an ongoing economic crimes investigation related to illegal activity involving the sales of timeshares, officers said.
Investigators said when officers stormed in Wednesday, employees began throwing cell phones and paperwork out of the office window.
Investigators said workers called the owners of time shares and claimed to have buyers. The owners would send money to sell the time share but after the money was transferred, the buyers would disappear.
Orlando Police arrested Michael Malgesini and Dominion Crupi after detectives spent hours examining paperwork at the time share office.
Crupi said, "Get away from me," when WFTV's Ryan Hughes asked him if he was a part of the alleged illegal activity.
Earlier in the day 11 people were detained and questioned including Malgesini and Crupi.
Tony Graham witnessed the raid.
"I heard the battering ram go through the door, walked outside, probably 50 to 60 police," Graham said.
Police said each fake transaction would cash in $500 to $1,000.
"You do see some pretty suspicious people coming in and out of that building," said Aaron Thomas an eyewitness.
Orlando Police also searched and hauled away a BMW as part of the investigation.
Malgesini and Crupi are charged with scheming to defraud and unlicensed telemarketing.
Two other employees were arrested on unrelated charges.
The names of the other people detained were not released Wednesday night but police told WFTV charges are likely to be filed against them.
It is the second raid on a time share telemarketing business in Orlando in less than one month. The police department told WFTV that Wednesday's investigation involves a scam similar to one that was busted in downtown Orlando in January (read that report), but involves a different group.