Maria Rowena Santiago Belen convicted of operating as a Travel Agent without Registration

Maria Rowena Santiago Belen convicted of operating as a Travel Agent without Registration

Maria Rowena Santiago Belen

TORONTO–Maria Rowena Santiago Belen (“Ms. Belen”) pleaded 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. Ms. Belen offered travel services in Toronto and elsewhere in Ontario.

As a result of the conviction, the following sentence was imposed on Ms. Belen:

a) Incarceration for a period of twelve (12) months to be served concurrently with the criminal sentence currently being served.

b) Free Standing Restitution Order in the amount of $81,578.21 in favour of 24 consumers who paid Ms. Belen for travel services that were not provided.

On February 15, 2015, Ms. 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. Ms. Belen 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. (Press release)

Formed in 1997, TICO is a not-for-profit corporation wholly financed by Ontario-registered travel agents and wholesalers. It administers the Travel Industry Act, 2002 and the Ontario Travel Industry Compensation Fund. TICO may be contacted at (905) 624-6241 or 1-888-451-TICO. Visit TICO’s website at www.tico.ca or email TICO at tico@tico.ca.