MISSISSAUGA, ON — The Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO) secured one conviction and has charged a range of individuals with operating as travel agents without registration.

Maria Ellen Galorport, sole proprietor, operating as Budget Travel and Tours plead guilty and has been convicted of one count of carrying on business with Maria Rowena Santiago Belen who was required to be registered as a travel agent but was not in fact so registered, contrary to section 20 of Ontario Regulation 26/05 made under the Travel Industry Act, 2002.

Galorport operated as a travel agent registered under the Act but voluntarily terminated her registration effective Sept. 30, 2014.

She was sentenced to pay a fine of $8,000 plus a Victim Surcharge fee, for a total of $10,000. Galorport was given one year to pay the fine.

In addition, Elizabeth Sampson-Holder has been charged with eight counts of operating as a travel agent without registration contrary to section 4(1)(a) of the Ontario Travel Industry Act, 2002. Sampson-Holder operated in Toronto and elsewhere in Ontario.

The first court appearance is scheduled for July 7, 2015 at 9 a.m. at the Ontario Court of Justice, Provincial Offences Court, located at 5 Ray Lawson Blvd, Brampton, ON.

Judy Jackson has been charged with one count of operating as a travel agent without registration contrary to section 4(1)(a) of the Ontario Travel Industry Act, 2002. She operated in Toronto and elsewhere in Ontario.

This is the second time Jackson has been charged under s. 4(1)(a) of the Act. The next court appearance is scheduled for June 25, 2015 at 9 a.m. at the Ontario Court of Justice, Provincial Offences Court, located at 70 Centre Ave., Toronto.

Alicia Kielek has been charged with 24 counts of operating as a travel agent without registration contrary to section 4(1)(a) of the Ontario Travel Industry Act, 2002. Kielek operated in Toronto and elsewhere in Ontario.

This is the second time Kielek has been charged under s. 4(1)(a) of the Act. The next court appearance is scheduled for July 9, 2015 at 9 a.m. at the Ontario Court of Justice, Provincial Offences Court, located at 70 Centre Ave., Toronto.

Rollah Zahir has been charged with one count of operating as a travel agent without registration contrary to section 4(1)(a) of the Ontario Travel Industry Act, 2002. He operated in Toronto and elsewhere in Ontario.

The first court appearance is scheduled for July 30, 2015 at 9 a.m. at the Ontario Court of Justice, Provincial Offences Court, located at 70 Centre Ave., Toronto.

Ghulam Mustafa Wahabi has been charged with one count of operating as a travel agent without registration contrary to section 4(1)(a) of the Ontario Travel Industry Act, 2002. Wahabi operated in Toronto and elsewhere in Ontario.

The first court appearance is scheduled for July 30, 2015 at 9 a.m. at the Ontario Court of Justice, Provincial Offences Court, located at 70 Centre Ave., Toronto.

1176630 Ontario Inc. o/a Esna Travel and Tours (“Esna Travel”), Shahrukh Teherany and Suraiya Teherany have each been charged with one count of carrying on business with Rollah Zahir who was required to be registered as a travel agent but was not in fact so registered, contrary to section 20 of Ontario Regulation 26/05 made under the Travel Industry Act, 2002.

Esna Travel is a travel agent registered under the Act. It operates in Toronto and elsewhere in Ontario. Shahrukh Teherany and Suraiya Teherany are directors and officers of Esna Travel.

The first court appearance is scheduled for July 30, 2015 at 9 a.m. at the Ontario Court of Justice, Provincial Offences Court, located at 70 Centre Avenue, Toronto.