Florida Travel Agency Ruins Vacations and Leaves Consumers Out Millions

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla.––Attorney General Pam Bondi today filed legal action against a closed Florida travel agency that still owes consumers nationwide more than $3 million. The defendants, Legendary Journeys, Inc., president and owner Adrian L. Ferguson, Jr., a/k/a Al Ferguson, and vice president Charles T. Scott, a/k/a Chuck Scott, operated a Sarasota-based travel agency with 11 branches across the state. The company abruptly closed in October 2017 after collecting millions from travelers and failing to deliver trips or issue refunds.

According to the complaint filed Tuesday, the defendants misappropriated company assets for personal benefit before closing, then filed an assignment for the benefit of creditors—a legal proceeding similar to bankruptcy. The complaint alleges Ferguson and Scott took money paid by consumers for vacation packages and used it to pay personal expenses and make extra payroll distributions. The two company officers even ran up a $44,000 one-day bill at Saks Fifth Avenue just prior to announcing closure. In the months and weeks leading up to and even after closure, Legendary continued to accept thousands of dollars from consumers for future trips, including a “once in a lifetime trip” for one couple and a 50th wedding anniversary trip for another—leaving many consumers with ruined vacations and financial losses.

Consumers nationwide made more than 800 claims against Legendary, totaling more than $3 million. The defendants promised to refund consumers, but assets are estimated at this time to be insufficient to pay creditors in full.

The Attorney General’s Office is seeking permanent injunctive relief, full restitution and the imposition of civil penalties and fees. According to the complaint, the defendants solicited and accepted funds from consumers for the purchase of travel, failed to deliver the promised trips, and in numerous instances failed to issue refunds. In addition, defendants advertised travel packages they did not provide and misrepresented that consumers paid in full for trips when defendants had not tendered payment to travel providers.

Consumers who paid money for travel from the above-named entities or individuals can file a complaint by calling 1(866) 9NO-SCAM or file online at MyFloridaLegal.com

To view the complaint, click here.

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