A former New Jersey resident has pleaded guilty to charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, related to a telemarketing scheme targeting timeshare owners over the age of 55. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Alina Habba.
James Toner, also known as “Jason Turner,” “James Turner,” and “Jason Thomas,” aged 43 from Lake Mary, Florida, admitted guilt before U.S. District Judge Karen M. Williams in Camden. He faced charges on two counts: conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud connected with telemarketing aimed at older timeshare owners. His sentencing is set for December 2, 2025.
Toner was charged alongside William O’Hanlon, also known as “Patrick Burns” or “William Burns,” aged 61; Karen Stefanowski, aged 63; and William Chiusano Jr., who was then 48 years old from Laguna Niguel, California. Charges against Chiusano have been dismissed due to his death. O’Hanlon and Stefanowski had previously pleaded guilty in May and April of this year.
Other individuals involved in the scheme included Alex Klemash from Williamstown, Michael Lambe from Mullica Hill, and La’Tresa Jackson from Lindenwold—all from New Jersey—who pleaded guilty in March 2023.
The scheme operated through businesses under the name WILLIAMS ANDREWS BURNS LLC, RESORT BNB INC., and WILLIAMS & BURNS INC., collectively referred to as “WAB.” Toner admitted he held a managerial role at WAB during his plea agreement.
Between October 2016 and October 2020, Toner and his co-conspirators engaged in fraudulent activities by offering fake services to timeshare owners through WAB. These included false promises to rent or buy timeshares under misleading pretenses or recover money paid by timeshare owners in other scams.
The conspirators obtained lists of timeshare owners’ contact details and cold-called them with various service pitches requiring upfront fees. They falsely claimed that owners had bonus weeks which could be rented for income or offered collection services for previous scams’ refunds for fees.
Toner agreed to restitution for any proven losses incurred by victims of WAB’s operations.
Each charge carries a maximum sentence of up to 30 years imprisonment with an additional enhancement of ten years if the fraud targeted or victimized persons over age 55 or more than ten such individuals. Fines could reach $250,000 per offense or twice the gross gain/loss derived from it.
U.S. Attorney Habba acknowledged contributions by agents from the FBI’s Philadelphia Division South Jersey Resident Agency led by Special Agent Wayne A. Jacobs; IRS Criminal Investigations Newark Field Office under Special Agent Jenifer Piovesan; Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General Cooperative Disability Investigations – Eastern Region directed by Conor Washington towards achieving this guilty plea outcome.
Assistant U.S Attorneys Elisa T.Wiygul along with Diana Vondra Carrig are representing governmental interests within this case out at Camden’s office locale while defense counsel representation comprises Lee Vartan Esq & Melissa Wernick Esq (for O’Hanlon), Zach Intrater Esq (Stefanowski), Megan Davies Esq (Toner), Michael Baldassare Esq (Jackson) Perry DeMarco Sr Esq (Klemash) Ira M Slovin Esq(Lambe).
