Federal Trade Commission
Protecting America's Consumers
Operation Trip-Trap:
List of Law Enforcement Actions
| Case Name | Office | Type of action | Where filed | Contact |
Federal Cases |
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| American International Travel Services, Inc., Silver Lake Resort, Ltd., Alfred H. Jugo, A.J. Stanton, Jr., and Lawrence S. Gilbert | FTC (ARO) |
Action for injunction and restitution; FTCA §§ 5 & 13(b) and Telemarketing Sales Rule | U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida (Ft. Lauderdale) |
Press Contact: Mitchell J. Katz (202) 326-2180
Staff Contact: Andrea Foster or Katharine Alphin (404) 656-1390 |
| First Impressions, Inc., d/b/a Air-Land-Sea Reservations, Inc., Air-Land-Sea Travel, Inc., Vacations Are Us, Inc., Vacation World, Inc., John Bundy, and Lloyd Ray McDade | FTC (CHRO)
along with |
Action for injunction and restitution; FTCA §§ 5 & 13(b) and Telemarketing Sales Rule | U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida (Ft. Lauderdale) |
FTC Press Contact: Mitchell J. Katz (202) 326-2180 Staff Contact: C. Steven Baker or Russell Damtoft (312) 960-5634
Wisconsin: James Jeffries (608) 267-8901 |
| ASQ, Inc. d/b/a Resort World, Inc., Frank A. Abatangelo, Jr., and Al Abolafia | FTC (SFRO) |
Action for injunction and restitution; FTCA §§ 5 & 13(b) and Telemarketing Sales Rule | U.S. District Court, District of Nevada | Press Contact: Mitchell J. Katz (202) 326-2180
Staff Contact: Jeffrey Klurfeld (415) 356-5270 |
| All Around Travel Club, Inc., Michael Mansueto, Douglas Baetz, Glenn Gallant, and Century Financial Group, Inc. | FTC (DARO) |
Action for injunction and restitution; FTCA §§ 5 & 13(b) | U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida (Ft. Lauderdale) | Press Contact: Mitchell J. Katz (202) 326-2180
Staff Contact: Thomas B. Carter (214) 979-9350 |
| Cerkvenik-Anderson Travel, Inc. d/b/a Student Tours, College Tours, and Mexico Tours and Andy Anderson | FTC (SERO) |
Action for injunction and restitution; FTCA §§ 5 & 13(b) | U.S. District Court, District of Arizona | Press Contact: Mitchell J. Katz (202) 326-2180
Staff Contact: Charles A. Harwood (206) 220-4480 and Nadine Samter (206) 220-4479 |
| Resort Sales Group, Inc., Cruise Link Travel, Inc., Design Travel of Altamonte Springs, Inc., Check America Corporation, Willie Biles, Margaret Alexander, Seth Miller and Steven Brewer | FTC (DMP) |
Stipulated Final Judgment and Order for Permanent Injunction against individual defendants Willie Biles, Margaret Alexander
Seth Miller and Steven Brewer |
U.S. District Court,
Western District of North Carolina |
Press Contact: Mitchell J. Katz (202) 326-2161
Staff Contact: Collot Guerard (202) 326-3338 |
| James K.S. Lee and Jimmy's Travel, Inc. | DOT along with State of Hawaii Dept. of Prosecuting Attorney | Felony Conviction $200,000 restitution | Hawaii State Court | Press Contact: Bill Mosley (202) 366-5582
Staff Contact: Mike Nolan (202) 366-9342 |
| Nevada Winner's, Inc. | DOT along with Washington Attorney General | Bond forfeiture action. $200,000 restitution | Superior Court of Washington | Press Contact: Bill Mosley (202) 366-5582
Staff Contact: Mike Nolan (202) 366-9342 |
State Cases |
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| American International Travel Services, Inc. | Arkansas Attorney General |
Complaint for Permanent Injunction, Civil Penalties and Restitution; state law | Pulaski County Arkansas | Press Contact: Darrin Williams (501) 682-2007
Staff Contact: Kay Barton (501) 682-6150 |
| National Travel Services, Inc., Plaza Resorts, Inc. d/b/a Ramada Plaza Resorts, Daniel Lambert, James Verrillo and Robin Leach | Arkansas Attorney General | Complaint for Permanent Injunction, Civil Penalties and Restitution; state law | Pulaski County Arkansas | Press Contact: Darrin Williams (501) 682-2007
Staff Contact: Kay Barton (501) 682-6150 |
| National Travel Services, Inc., Plaza Resorts, Inc. d/b/a Ramada Plaza Resorts, Daniel Lambert, James Verrillo and Robin Leach | Arizona Attorney General | Complaint for Permanent Injunction, Civil Penalties and Restitution; state law | Arizona Superior Court | Press Contact: Patty Urias (602) 542-8017
Staff Contact: Kathryn Leonard (602) 542-7719 |
| Cerkvenik-Anderson Travel, Inc. d/b/a Student Tours, College Tours and Andy Anderson | Arizona Attorney General | Complaint for Permanent Injunction, Civil Penalties and Restitution; state law | Arizona Superior Court | Press Contact: Patty Urias (602) 542-8017
Staff Contact: Kathryn Leonard (602) 542-7719 |
| National Travel Services, Inc., James Verrillo, and Robin Leach | California Attorney General |
Complaint for Permanent Injunction, Civil Penalties and Restitution; state law | California Superior Court | Press Contact: Sandy Michioku (916) 324-5500 |
| Surf & Sun/Island Tours | California Attorney General |
Complaint for Permanent Injunction, Civil Penalties and Restitution; state law | California Superior Court | Press Contact: Sandy Michioku (916) 324-5500
Staff Contacts: Jerry Smilowitz (213) 897-2636 or Michael Hughes (213) 897-2146 |
| Uncle Gimpies, International | California Attorney General |
Complaint for Permanent Injunction, Civil Penalties and Restitution; state law | California Superior Court | Press Contact: Sandy Michioku (916) 324-5500
Staff Contacts: Michael Hughes (213) 897-2146 |
| Dream Marketing | California Attorney General |
Complaint for Permanent Injunction, Civil Penalties and Restitution; state law | California Superior Court | Press Contact: Sandy Michioku (916) 327-7892
Staff Contacts: Jerry Smilowitz (213) 897-2636 |
| Modern Pilgrimages and Manfred Reinhard | California Attorney General |
$650,000 Final Judgment after trial | California Superior
Court |
Press Contact: Sandy Michioku (916) 327-7892
Staff Contacts: Susan Henrichsen (619) 740-2081 |
| National Travel Services, Inc., Plaza Resorts, Inc. d/b/a Ramada Plaza Resorts Orlando/Ft. Lauderdale Vacations, Daniel Lambert, James Verrillo and Robin Leach | Connecticut Attorney General |
Complaint for Permanent Injunction, Civil Penalties and Restitution; state law | Connecticut Superior Court | Press Contact: Lisa Marie Pane (860) 808-5324
Staff Contact: Lorrie Lewis Adeyemi (860)808-5400 |
| National Travel Services, Inc., Plaza Resorts, Inc. d/b/a Ramada Plaza Resorts Orlando/Ft. Lauderdale Vacations, Daniel Lambert and James Verrillo | D.C. Office of the Corporation Counsel |
Complaint for Permanent Injunction, Civil Penalties and Restitution; state law | U.S. District Court Washington D.C. | Press Contact: Eugene Adams (202) 727-6295 ext. 3463
Staff Contact: Musa Eubanks (202) 727-3500 |
| American International Travel Services, Inc. | Florida Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services | Administrative complaint and emergency suspension order | Division of Administrative Hearings | Press Contact: Liz Compton (850) 922-7913
Staff Contact: J.R. Kelly (850) 922-2814 |
| Travel Group International | Florida Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services | Bond Revocation resulting in consumer restitution | Press Contact: Liz Compton (850) 922-7913
Staff Contact: J.R. Kelly (850) 922-2814 |
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| Better, Faster, Easier Travel | Florida Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services | Bond Revocation resulting in consumer restitution | Press Contact: Liz Compton (850) 922-7913
Staff Contact: J.R. Kelly (850) 922-2814 |
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| Air-Land-Sea Reservations | Florida Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services | Investigation of violations of Florida Sellers of Travel Act and unfair and deceptive trade practices | Press Contact: Liz Compton (850) 922-7913
Staff Contact: J.R. Kelly (850) 922-2814 |
|
| National Travel Services, Inc., Plaza Resorts, Inc. d/b/a Ramada Plaza Resorts, Daniel Lambert, James Verrillo and Robin Leach | Illinois Attorney General | Complaint for Permanent Injunction, Civil Penalties and Restitution; state law | Illinois Superior Court | Press Contact: Abdul-Hakim Shabazz (217) 524-4173
Staff Contact: Avonne Seals (217) 782-4436 |
| National Travel Services, Inc., Plaza Resorts, Inc. d/b/a Ramada Plaza Resorts, Daniel Lambert, James Verrillo and Robin Leach | Kansas Attorney General | Complaint for Permanent Injunction, Civil Penalties and Restitution; state law | Shawnee County District Court Topeka, Kansas | Press Contact: Mary Tritsch (785) 296-2215
Staff Contact: Derek Schmidt (785) 296-3751 |
| National Travel Services, Inc., Plaza Resorts, Inc. d/b/a Ramada Plaza Resorts, Daniel Lambert, James Verrillo and Robin Leach | Michigan Attorney General | Complaint for Permanent Injunction, Civil Penalties and Restitution; state law | 30th Judicial Circuit Court Michigan | Press Contact: Christopher DeWitt (517) 373-8060
Staff Contact: Kathy Fitzgerald (517) 335-0855 |
| Student International Travel | Michigan Attorney General | Civil Complaint for TRO and asset seizure filed together with criminal charges | 3rd Judicial Circuit Michigan | Press Contact: Christopher DeWitt (517) 373-8060
Staff Contact: Paul Novak (517) 335-0855 |
| Commonwealth Marketing Group | Minnesota Attorney General | Pursuant to settlement disbursement of restitution to consumers | Minnesota | Press Contact: Leslie Sandberg (651) 296-2069
Staff Contact: Helen Rubenstein (651) 297-2730 |
| Bailey & Assoc., d/b/a National Resorts and New Horizons | Missouri Attorney General | Complaint for Permanent Injunction, Civil Penalties and Restitution; state law | Missouri | Press Contact: Scott Holste (573) 751-8844
Staff Contact: Michael Delaney (314) 340-7956 |
| National Travel Services, Inc., Plaza Resorts, Inc. d/b/a Ramada Plaza Resorts, Daniel Lambert, James Verrillo and Robin Leach | Missouri Attorney General | Complaint for Permanent Injunction, Civil Penalties and Restitution; state law | Missouri | Press Contact: Scott Holste (573) 751-8844
Staff Contact: Dale Youngs (816) 889-5000 |
| National Travel Services, Inc., Plaza Resorts, Inc. d/b/a Ramada Plaza Resorts, Daniel Lambert, James Verrillo and Robin Leach | New Mexico Attorney General | Complaint for Permanent Injunction, Civil Penalties and Restitution; state law | New Mexico | Press Contact: Sam Thompson (505) 827-6792
Staff Contact: Ann Strickland (505) 827-9955 |
| Sandhills Marketing, Inc., Benjamin P. Elliot, James E. Cook, Gayle Cook, Robert Rucker, and Robert L. Miller, Jr. | North Carolina Attorney General | Complaint for injunction and civil penalties | North Carolina Superior Court Wake County | Press Contact: Amanda Crumley (919) 716-6412
Staff Contact: Harriet Worley (919) 716-6014 |
| REC Marketing and Procurement, Reed Lee, Inc., Richard L. Verdow, James E. Cook, Benjamin P. Elliot, and William E. Christian, Jr. | North Carolina Attorney General | Complaint for injunction and civil penalties | North Carolina Superior Court Wake County | Press Contact: Amanda Crumley (919) 716-6412
Staff Contact: Harriet Worley (919) 716-6014 |
| National Travel Services, Inc., Plaza Resorts, Inc. d/b/a Ramada Plaza Resorts, Daniel Lambert and James Verrillo | North Carolina Attorney General | Complaint for injunction and civil penalties | North Carolina Superior Court Wake County | Press Contact: Amanda Crumley (919) 716-6412
Staff Contact: Harriet Worley (919) 716-6014 |
| National Travel Services, Inc., Plaza Resorts, Inc. d/b/a Ramada Plaza Resorts, Daniel Lambert, James Verrillo and Robin Leach, individually and d/b/a Leach Entertainment Enterprises | Ohio Attorney General | Complaint for Permanent Injunction, Civil Penalties and Restitution; state law | Ohio | Press Contact: Jen Detwiler (614) 466-3840
Staff Contact: Mike Ziegler and Cheryl Hawkinson (614) 644-9618 |
| Travel Opportunities | Ohio Attorney General | Consent Judgment | Ohio | Press Contact: Jen Detwiler (614) 466-3840
Staff Contact: Mike Ziegler (614) 644-9618 |
| Cerkvenik-Anderson | Oregon Attorney General | Assurance of Voluntary Compliance | Oregon | Press Contact: Jan Margosian (503) 378-4732
Staff Contact: Eugene Ebersole (503) 378-4732 |
| National Travel Services, Inc., Plaza Resorts, Inc. d/b/a Ramada Plaza Resorts and d/b/a Orlando/Ft. Lauderdale Vacations, Daniel Lambert, James Verrillo and Robin Leach, individually and d/b/a Leach Entertainment Enterprises | Pennsylvania Attorney General | Complaint for Permanent Injunction, Civil Penalties and Restitution; state law | Court of Common Pleas Cambria County, Pennsylvania |
Press Contact: Barb Petito (717) 787-5211
Staff Contact: E. Barry Creany (814) 949-7900 |
| National Travel Services, Inc., Ramada Plaza Resorts, Daniel Lambert, James Verrillo and Robin Leach, individually and d/b/a Leach Entertainment Enterprises, Inc. | Washington Attorney General | Complaint for injunctive and other relief under Sellers of Travel Act and Unfair Business Practices--Consumer Protection Act | Superior Court of Washington King County |
Press Contact: Janice Marich (206) 464-6432
Staff Contact: Regina Cullen (206) 464-6261 |
| Great Escapes Marketing & Tours | Washington Attorney General | Moved for Default Judgment | Superior Court of Washington King County |
Press Contact: Janice Marich (206) 464-6432
Staff Contact: Regina Cullen (206) 464-6261 |
| Sunscapes Travel, Inc., Maureen Cheal and Richard Cheal | Washington Attorney General | Complaint for injunctive and other relief under Sellers of Travel Act and Unfair Business Practices--Consumer Protection Act | Superior Court of Washington King County |
Press Contact: Janice Marich (206) 464-6432
Staff Contact: Regina Cullen (206) 464-6261 |
| Vacation Center, International | Washington Attorney General | Complaint for injunctive and other relief under Sellers of Travel Act and Unfair Business Practices--Consumer Protection Act | Superior Court of Washington King County |
Press Contact: Janice Marich (206) 464-6432
Staff Contact: Regina Cullen (206) 464-626 |
| Ultima Travel Club | Washington Attorney General | Consent enforcement action | Superior Court of Washington King County |
Press Contact: Janice Marich (206) 464-6432
Staff Contact: Regina Cullen (206) 464-6261 |
| Nevada Winners, Inc. | Washington State Department of Licensing | Statement of Charges | Superior Court of Washington Yakima County |
Press Contact: Suzanne Taylor (360) 902-3611
Staff Contact: Trudie Touchette (360) 586-7569 |
| First Impressions, Inc., d/b/a Air-Land-Sea Reservations, Inc., Air-Land-Sea Travel, Inc., Vacations Are Us, Inc., Vacation World, Inc., John Bundy, and Lloyd Ray McDade | Wisconsin Attorney General | Joint action with FTC for injunction and restitution; FTCA §§ 5 & 13(b) and Telemarketing Sales Rule | U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida (Ft. Lauderdale) |
Press Contact: Jim Haney (608) 266-1221
Staff Contact: James Jeffries (608) 267-8901 |
| National Travel Services, Inc., Plaza Resorts, Inc. d/b/a Ramada Plaza Resorts and d/b/a Orlando/Ft. Lauderdale Vacations, Daniel Lambert, James Verrillo and Robin Leach, individually and d/b/a Leach Entertainment Enterprises | Wisconsin Attorney General | Complaint for Permanent Injunction, Civil Penalties and Restitution; state law | Wisconsin | Press Contact: Jim Haney (608) 266-1221
Staff Contact: James Jeffries (608) 267-890 |
| Commonwealth Marketing Group | Wisconsin Attorney General | Pursuant to settlement disbursement of restitution to over 600 consumers | Wisconsin | Press Contact: Jim Haney (608) 266-1221
Staff Contact: James Jeffries (608) 267-8901 |
NON-ENFORCEMENT STATE EDUCATION PARTNERS |
CONTACT |
| Delaware Attorney General | Olha Rybakoff (302) 577-8513 |
| Florida Attorney General | Jane Rose (850)414-3600 -- Tallahassee Dan Stermer (954) 712-4600 -- Ft. Lauderdale |
| Idaho Attorney General | Michelle Butts (208) 334-2830 |
| Massachusetts Attorney General | Mary B. Freeley (617) 727-2200 |
| Mississippi Attorney General | Mike Rhodes (601) 359-4230 |
| Texas Attorney General | Art Weiss (512) 475-4656 |
| Vermont Attorney General | Elliot Burg (802) 828-2153 |
| Utah Attorney General | Kent Nelson (801) 530-6601 |
| West Virginia Attorney General | Brad Deal (304) 558-8986 |