Stamford Travel Agent Charged With Not Delivering Flights

A former employee of the now defunct was arrested in Baltimore, MD, Monday evening for allegedly stealing thousands of dollars from customers who paid for plane tickets but allegedly never received them, Stamford Sgt. Peter diSpagna said Tuesday afternoon.

The business advertised as serving servicing a niche clientel in the community by touting "[the] location's primary client base is Spanish speaking, but everyone is welcome." Sgt. diSpagna said all 13 of the families who were victims were Latino and their losses totaled more than $21,000. 

"The initial family purchased tickets to go to Honduras," the sergeant said. "All 13 of the families were purchasing tickets to go to Central or South American countries."

Sgt. diSpangna said the families would arranged for tickets for traveling to these countries through Ruth Yolanda Montoya, 58, of Lawton St. in New Rochelle, but when they arrived at the airport for their flights, Montoya allegedly never secured the flights.

After some investigation, it was discovered Montoya had closed the business and filed for bankruptcy, police said. 

A warrant was issued in December of 2011 and Montoya remained at large until a motor vehicle stop in Baltimore yesterday in which Montoya was a passenger led to her arrest.

She was picked up by Stamford authorities Tuesday and charged with first-degree larceny.