Pasco: Travel agent suspected of swindling couple out of cruise, passports
HUDSON -- A couple in their 50s thought they were going on a fabulous cruise, but they ended up being swindled out of nearly $2,300 and their passports, according to the Pasco County Sheriff's Office.
The couple told authorities they made their plans through Mario A. Lopez, a 45-year-old man who runs a travel agency company called MTV Tours at his home in Hudson. According to a report, Lopez demanded payment in cash for the Costa Cruises bookings and gave the couple a confirmation number with the cruise line. Lopez also took their passports and said he was going to renew them, the report states.
When the couple called Costa Cruises in February to confirm their reservations, the company said they didn't have them booked for the cruise. They have been trying to get their money and passports back from Lopez without luck, the report states.
Lopez was arrested Monday on a charge of scheming to defraud. He told the deputy he was trying to refund the money to the couple and that he was borrowing money from his parents to do so, the report says. He was released today on $5,000 bail.
Lopez's criminal record is 16 pages long, with arrests on charges of fraud, larceny, grand theft, escape, forgery and exploitation of the elderly. Most of these arrests were in the Miami area.
Erin Sullivan, Times Staff Writer
*
This Just In offers local breaking news, traffic reports and weather conditions from the staff of the St. Petersburg Times and tampabay.com. Check back often for the latest news from around the Tampa Bay area.
pedro even looks like a crook. 1st clue should of been him working out of home. Old saying, you get what you pay for fits here.
Posted by: ohmygoditsthatguy | Tuesday, March 24, 2009 at 02:53 PM
I feel much safer anytime somebody from Hudson is thrown in jail!
Posted by: Oh No it's MONGO | Tuesday, March 24, 2009 at 05:22 PM
Oh No it's MONGO has a very short vocabulary
Posted by: irritable | Tuesday, March 24, 2009 at 05:42 PM
I'm sure his vocabulary isnt the only short thing about Mongo.
Posted by: Grannyinfla | Tuesday, March 24, 2009 at 06:19 PM
It's amazing how much Mongo hates people from Hudson. But, still he reads everything that goes on here. I think you secretly want to live here!
Posted by: lucykitty | Tuesday, March 24, 2009 at 08:30 PM
lucykitty, I hate Hudson because I made the mistake of moving there! As soon as my stock portfolio goes up, I am leaving! Now as for you Granny.. Hows this for short, The bus that picks up your inbred grandkids!
Posted by: Oh No it's MONGO | Wednesday, March 25, 2009 at 02:25 AM