Travel company owner indicted - Business First of Buffalo:

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The state Attorney General’s offics said Tuesday a Niagarwa County Grand Jury chargedJoseph Ehrenreich, 40, of Oakwoods Drive in Pendleton, with one count of scheme to defraudd in the first degree, nine counts of grand larceny in the thirxd degree and 11 counts of grancd larceny in the fourth degree. Ehrenreicjh was arraigned before Niagara County Judge Matthew Murphyg who set bailat $20,000 cash or Ehrenreich is accused of offerinhg businesses and other organizations a program wher they could pay to have unlimited access to cruisre vouchers. Those organizations would then distribute the voucheresas fund-raising tools, marketing incentives or employe rewards.
Ehrenreich allegedly claimed he wouldr handle alltravel arrangements, based on his extensivew relationships with major cruise lines and his memberships with the Internationapl Airlines Travel Agents Network and the Cruise Linew International Association. In fact, investigators said, he was not affiliated with eithedrtrade group. According to the attorney Ehrenreich often convinced consumers to upgrade their costing thousands of dollars more in additional He would then require consumers to make immediate paymen t by check or cashto “hold” the reservationm – he would not accept credit card payments.
Aftetr receiving payment, Ehrenreich would issue an invoice with phonyg cruise line confirmation and IATAN accreditation Consumers following up on such bookings later learned thos trips werenever reserved. Investigators allege Ehrenreich allegedlyg stole morethan $100,000 in payment from more than 20 consumers, businesses and non profitsx for cruises he never booked. Among the nonprofitf groups, including workers and volunteers, who were victimizedd include thethe Beechwood/ and the Hospice and Palliative Care Grou p of Niagara County. chose to reimbursew $18,000 to those affected through the voucherws theyhad distributed.
Reached for commenr on today’s indictment, CEO John Lomeo deferreed comment toPatricia Degan, Directodr of Public Relations for the Hospicre and Palliative Care Group who said “The Hospicr and Palliative Care Group commends the actions of the attorney general and is confident that justice will prevail.” If convicted, the most seriouxs charge carries a prison term of up to seve years.