Convictions and revocations

Convictions

Ms. Karen Gushue has been sentenced to 75 days and 45 days in jail for two counts of operating as a travel agent without registration, to be served intermittently and concurrently.

Ms. Gushue was convicted of two counts of operating as a travel agent without registration on February 8, 2019.

The conviction was in relation to Ms. Gushue selling travel services to consumers who believed they were purchasing all-inclusive cruise packages to the Bahamas and Hawaii. Those consumers did not receive either part or all of the travel services they had paid for. Many of the consumers impacted are in the Fort Erie area and members of a local Royal Canadian Legion.

TICO was successful in ensuring partial restitution from Ms. Gushue in the amount of $15,000, which will be returned to consumers on a pro-rata basis. Ms. Gushue has also been charged by the Niagara Regional Police with fraud over $5,000 under the Criminal Code. This matter is ongoing and is currently awaiting trial.

Ms. Gushue has appealed the convictions. In the interim, she was released on bail on conditions consistent with the criminal case. A date for the appeal hearing will be set.

Ms. Alicia Kielek has been sentenced to two years of probation, including 50 hours of community service, restitution totaling $6,440 (to be paid by November 25, 2021), and an industry ban for the duration of the Order.

Ms. Kielek was convicted of two counts of operating as a travel agent without registration on September 20, 2018.

Ms. Kielek was previously the supervisor/manager of Intercontinental Travel Bureau, a travel agency that was TICO-registered until its registration was revoked in 2015 due to alleged contraventions of the Travel Industry Act, 2002. Ms. Kielek continued to operate without registration, selling travel services to consumers, which they never received.