An Ohio woman was given prison time for defrauding dozens in a Disney vacation booking scheme.
39-year-old Lisa Andres of Liberty Township, Ohio was sentenced to 4 years in prison for failing to provide Disney vacation packages after accepting thousands of dollars from victims.
Andres had previously pleaded guilty to nine charges including theft, grand theft, theft from an elderly person or disabled adult and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity. Victims included friends and family members who gave Andres sums as high as $20,000 for vacation bookings and investments in a travel business which did not exist.
Nine victims spoke at the sentencing. Most recounted giving thousands of dollars to Andres to book vacations to Walt Disney World, only to later discover that no arrangements were made. Victims included a dance team, grandparents hoping to take their grandchildren on a once-in-a-lifetime trip and Andres' own sister who had funds fraudulently removed from her Social Security account.
Andres told one individual that she was able to book low-cost vacations due to her status as a Disney Vacation Club member.
In addition to the prison time, Andres was ordered to pay $104,000 in restitution.
Source: Journal-News.com
