Gilbert Brett Freeman, International Timeshare Fraud, Illinois 2014

Aurora man Gilbert Brett Freeman, 44, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for his role in a $4.8 million timeshare swindle that targeted over 1,400 owners.

Freeman, a native of Aurora who most recently resided in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, pleaded guilty in 2014 to five counts of wire fraud. U.S. District Judge Elaine E. Bucklo imposed the 240-month sentence in federal court in Chicago.

The scheme, which began in 2008 and continued until January 2015, involved Freeman and his companies collecting payments from timeshare owners for fictitious fees and taxes. Freeman promised to sell their Mexican timeshares to corporate buyers but had no intention of doing so. Instead, he used the money to fund a lavish lifestyle that included a penthouse apartment, Rolex watches, numerous vacations, and the rental of a Lamborghini in Las Vegas for $1,399 per day.

“The defendant’s actions had a devastating impact on countless victims,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Stetler argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “Rather than using his victims’ money to fund timeshare sales, the defendant chose to use that money to bankroll an extravagant lifestyle.”

Authorities arrested Freeman in July 2012 in Las Vegas. He was involved with various Mexican-based companies, including International Resorts Resale, Resort Closing Services, Timeshare Consolidators, Timeshare Liquidators, and Transfer My Timeshare.

The sentencing of Freeman was announced by Zachary T. Fardon, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Michael J. Anderson, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and C. Steven Baker, Director of the Midwest Region of the Federal Trade Commission.

The government is being represented by Mr. Stetler. In all, eleven defendants have been charged in the scheme, with four defendants, including Freeman, having pleaded guilty, while the others have pleaded not guilty and are awaiting trial.

Gilbert Brett Freeman, Defendant, Five counts of wire fraud, Chicago, IL, July 2012 (arrest), January 2015 (crime end date), 240 months (20 years in prison), $4.8 million (dollar amount).

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