Two travel agents scam would-be cruisers
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Posted on: August 23rd, 2007 by Paul Fenrich
Two travel agents from Texas are facing a sentence that could be as long as 20 years in jail in addition to large fines. The two were recently convicted of committing fraud.
On Tuesday, a jury decided that 52-year-old Carol Ribaudo and 28-year-old Sonja Ritz of Clearwater, Fla., were both guilty of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud as well as five counts of mail fraud, and nine counts of wire fraud. U.S. Attorney John L. Ratcliffe released the ruling in a statement made on Wednesday.
The two travel agents operated Elite Business Services, according to court testimony. Based in McKinney, they accepted payment for a chartered cruise that was never going to happen. They promised prospective passengers a cruise in February 2004 but never contacted a cruise line to book passengers, let alone provide payment to a cruise carrier.
Sentencing has not yet occurred but Ribaudo and Ritz could be forced to pay restitution amounting to $210,000 as well as fines of up to $250,000. In addition, both former travel agents are facing the prospect of serving in a federal institution.
The trial was held in a federal district court and lasted for five days.
Blogman
Sounds to me like certain legitimate cruise companies when you book online, then hear absolutely nothing for weeks and then need to contact them again to remind them of your initial inquiry and intention to pay the deposit. Then they become interested.
I’m wondering just where they promised to take their prospective passengers. As they are massive fines!
Amah
who would be sure to trust such a company? did they have pictures of happy passengers and the cruise itself?
whoever was sily enough to pay without verification deserves all they get.