The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has announced the arrest of a Florida man, Charles Henry Williams, 63, on charges of Theft by Deception and Exploitation of an Elder Person. The arrest concludes a five-month multi-agency investigation into an elaborate online timeshare scam that defrauded an elderly Newnan, Georgia couple of over $1 million.

Williams, a resident of Trinity, Florida, was taken into custody on August 29, 2025. He will face charges in Coweta County, Georgia, where the primary victims reside.

The investigation began in April 2025, when the GBI Georgia Cyber Crime Center was requested to look into an online timeshare scam targeting an elderly couple in Newnan. Over the course of four years, the couple was exploited for more than $1 million. Investigators also identified additional victims during the extensive probe.

The GBI conducted this investigation in close coordination with a coalition of law enforcement partners, including the State of Georgia Attorney General’s Office, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, and the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation urges the public to remain vigilant against cyber fraud and to educate themselves on common scams. Specific information on various forms of cybercrime, including Business Email Compromise (BEC) fraud, can be found on the FBI website at https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/scams-and-safety.

Anyone who suspects they may be a victim of cybercrime is encouraged to report it to their local law enforcement agency and online at www.ic3.gov. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to the GBI by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.

Further details regarding the ongoing legal proceedings will be released as they become available.

Contact: GBI Public Affairs Office PublicAffairs@gbi.ga.gov