A Brooklyn travel agent conned more than two dozen customers out of $350,000 for travel packages that never materialized, a court has heard.
Juniad Mirza is facing the possibility of up to 15 years in prison for stealing the money from 25 customers over a four year period through his two businesses Pearl USA Travel, Inc. and Travel Treat, Inc.
"Many of the victims were hardworking Pakistani immigrants who trusted the defendant and were cheated out of a lifelong dream of taking a pilgrimage to Mecca," said Brooklyn district attorney Ken Thompson.
Customers paid out between $1,000 and $14,000 for the trips.
Some customers allegedly only had one-way flight tickets booked leaving them stranded overseas.
Prosecutors say the case is still being investigated and more customers are coming forward.
Mirza is facing 31 separate charges and his bail was set at $250,000 during the arraignment at Brooklyn Supreme Court.
