"A Marblehead man was arrested Friday in California after allegedly defrauding more than 100 high school students and chaperones in Florida out of $400,000, authorities said. Robert Goodwin, 56, owner of Stone & Compass travel agency, is facing two counts of grand theft and two counts of organized scheme to defraud, the Volusia County Sheriff's Office said in a Sept. 30 press release. His bond is set at $4 million."
"Each traveler in the group had paid a minimum of $3,550 in travel fees for airfare, lodging, and excursions, according to the sheriff's office. Detectives in Florida began investigating Stone & Compass in May 2024 after the case was referred to the sheriff's office. Investigators discovered that the agency was being sued by "numerous other organizations" for similar allegations, including Flagler College, a private liberal arts school in St. Augustine, Fla."
Robert Goodwin, 56, owner of Stone & Compass travel agency, was arrested in California and charged with two counts of grand theft and two counts of organized scheme to defraud, with bond set at $4 million. He allegedly defrauded 104 Seabreeze High School students and chaperones of about $400,000 for a nine-day class trip to Italy and Greece planned for June 2024. Each traveler paid at least $3,550 for airfare, lodging, and excursions. One month before departure the agency said it was going out of business and offered no refunds; its website and contact lines became inactive. Florida detectives began investigating in May 2024 and found lawsuits from other organizations, including Flagler College. A warrant was issued in September; Goodwin is in custody in California pending extradition to Volusia County, and students and parents will be invited to meet him upon his arrival.
Read at Boston.com
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