Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that Shadia Melissa Aguilar Sarmiento, 30, from Mexico, has been sentenced to approximately 13 months of imprisonment. This sentence accounts for time already served and was handed down by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport. Aguilar Sarmiento was involved in a conspiracy to defraud timeshare property owners.
Court documents reveal that Aguilar Sarmiento participated in an advance fee scheme targeting timeshare owners at various Mexican resorts, including those in the U.S. and Canada. The operation functioned as a business in Mexico under several company names such as Club World Travel, Luxury Destinations, DeRemate, and Smart Travel.
The conspirators contacted timeshare owners claiming to represent companies interested in purchasing their properties. To appear legitimate, they referred owners to purported attorneys who were real licensed attorneys but whose identities were used without permission. These impersonated attorneys sent purchase agreements on official letterhead listing the purchase price and indicating any fees would be recouped.
After signing agreements believing them genuine, timeshare owners were contacted by someone posing as a government or authority figure requesting payment of fees or taxes before finalizing sales. Many paid these through international wire transfers to Mexican bank accounts controlled by the conspirators. The process repeated with additional fees until payments ceased.
No sales proceeds were ever received by the timeshare owners.
From December 2018 until January 2021 when Aguilar Sarmiento was active in the scheme, over 50 victims lost around $2 million collectively.
Aguilar Sarmiento must pay restitution totaling $2,065,852.85 to her victims as part of her sentence.
She has been detained since January 12, 2024 after being arrested in San Diego upon entering the U.S. on a visitor visa. She pleaded guilty on November 19, 2024 to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division are investigating this case which is prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeraj N. Patel.