United Kingdom
United States
Asia Pacific
Maine travel agent jailed for fraud
Wednesday, 29 Oct, 2015
0
A Maine travel agent has been sentenced to 18 months in jail for mail and wire fraud after dozens of clients paid money for non-existent travel bookings.
Beth Rogers, 46, from Portland, operated as TravelWise Cruises & Tours, and misappropriated payments from at least 50 clients to pay for other customers’ bookings.
Rodgers then sent fake receipts to clients claiming travel arrangements had been made, according to documents produced during the trial.
"Beginning in late 2011, Rogers began taking client money without making travel reservations for clients. She instead used the clients’ money to pay for the travel of other TravelWise clients. Rogers continued to misapply client money in this fashion until mid-2012, when her scheme was discovered," said assistant U.S. attorney Craig Wolff in a prosecution document filed with the court.
Rodgers, who pleaded guilty to the charges back in March, was also ordered to pay restitution of $209,000 and will receive six years of supervised release.
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
Walt Leger on New Orleans’ Resilience and Major Events Ahead
Cindy Mackin Shares Estes Park’s Winter Thrills
Mark Jaronski of Explore Georgia on FIFA World Cup 2026
Connecting Small Businesses to Global Tourism Markets: Nate Huff of Tourism Exchange
North Carolina’s Resilience: Wit Tuttell on Recovery and Tourism
Kittipong Prapattong’s Plan for Thailand’s Tourism Growth: Taxes, Visas, and Campaigns
James Jin: Didatravel’s Journey from China to Global Reach and the Impact of AI on Travel
Darien Schaefer on Pensacola’s Evolution: From Small Town to Global Destination
Florida Tourism’s Next Frontier: Dana Young on Expanding Beyond the Classics
Patrick Harrison on Tampa Bay Tourism’s Resilience and Marketing Strategy
Bubba O’Keefe on Clarksdale’s Vibrant Music Scene
Commemorating Elvis and Embracing Tupelo’s Culture with Jennie Bradford Curlee
BA suspending all Heathrow to Abu Dhabi flights
Unexpected wave rocks cruise ship
Report: Cruise guest died after ship lashed in heavy storm
British teen in serious condition after paraglider collision
JetBlue scraps London Gatwick flights