Denver Travel Agent That Scammed People

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/tourist-scams/scammed

I believe this was the last that was posted on that subject.

Thanks CJean. I was thinking (perhaps incorrectly) that there was going to be a January court date of some type.

As one of the victims, I can answer your question. Therese Schoen, dba Mythic World Tours, was charged with a class 4 theft felony. She was arrested 12/11/17, spent the night in Denver's jail and released on personal accord because she had no previous arrests. She then went to court on 1/4/18. She was 1/2 hour late and brought in her disabled (?) ex-husband (sympathy ploy?). Arrest warrants were waiting for her and she was charged with an additional theft felony charge and computer crimes, again spent the night in jail and was released on $5000 bond. Her arraignment hearing was scheduled for 1/22 but has been postponed until 3/5 so the charges can be merged and her public defender can put together a case. Depending how she pleas, the case will either go to hearing or sentencing. My travel companion Su and I will fly to Denver for that hearing/sentencing whenever is it scheduled.
We now know she spent all our money, somewhere north of $50,000. The DA has not told us how many total victims but our guess is 9: 5 from our tour, 1 previous, 2 as the case was being prepared and at least 1 on the new theft charge. The DA's office does not believe she has any assets to compensate us.

We are so angry to say the least. The only thing that will make us happy is that she rot in jail and her social security is divided between the victims. If you're thinking I sound vindictive, you are right. We are all retirees, most living on fixed income, some less income than others. One man on our tour has terminal cancer and this was to be the last tour with his wife (they paid a second time, directly to the tour operator, to be able to take the tour). Another lady is a cancer survivor who postponed her tour for two years while in treatment; she also paid twice. Su and I could not afford double payment. I don't know about the other victims because I think their names fall under privacy laws.
Kathy

Kathy, Wow! She really did it up big time. I'm so very, very, sorry this happened to all of you and even sorrier that there are no assets to compensate you. Was she and/or the business not bonded at all? Don't give sounding vindictive a second thought -- you're entitled. It seems to me in "the good book" there is a reference to something along the lines of "Vengeance is mine sayeth the Lord". That's well and good, but there is nothing wrong the courts helping Him along in the meantime. Please let us know the final outcome. Peace.

This is a real service of the RS forum. When stories like this are publicized, we can all learn something, and we know the names of bad actors. Now, we need to be sure that this bad actor is not allowed to victimize others.

Thanks to the OP for asking and thanks to horsewoofie for the update. Hopefully, she will rot in prison, in addition to some long-term rotting elsewhere...

Kathy,

It's great to hear that the scammer has finallly been brought to justice, and I hope you get at least part of your money back.

chemoso72, So sorry you were also caught up in this scam. Please let us know the final outcome.

So horrible, to say the least. Did any of the victims of the scammer get any compensation from their travel insurance?

TXtwinmana, no. Travel Guard refuses to pay because she was a travel agent not a tour operator. We appealed and got the same run around. I did a topic on that several months ago.