Woman jailed for operating as agent without registration

Woman jailed for operating as a travel agent without registration

Maria Rowena Santiago Belen plead guilty to one count of operating as a travel retailer without registration contrary to section 4(1)(a) of the Ontario Travel Industry Act, 2002. She offered travel services in Toronto and elsewhere in Ontario. As a result of the conviction, she was sentenced to 12 months of incarceration to be served concurrently with the criminal sentence currently being served. There was also a Free Standing Restitution Order in the amount of $81,578.21 in favour of 24 consumers who paid Belen for travel services that were not provided. On Feb. 15, 2015, Belen was convicted of one count of Defrauding the Public contrary to s. 380(1)(a) of the Criminal Code of Canada, relating to approximately 70 individuals who paid $301,736.17 for travel services not provided. She was sentenced to a period of incarceration that is the equivalent of 21 months and a Free Standing Restitution Order in the amount of $301,736.17.






Get travel news right to your inbox!