Charges and Convictions
TICO conducts investigations when it becomes apparent that there may have been a breach of the Travel Industry Act, 2002 and Ontario Regulation 26/05. Investigations can result in charges being laid under the statute. Results of investigations are not a matter of public record, unless they escalate into a prosecution and charges are laid. The following are TICO investigations that have resulted in charges and convictions:
Current Charges:
| Date | Name |
| March 26, 2025 | Shawna Thibodeau operating as Be Free by Shawna Thibodeau |
| January 28, 2025 | Tarcia Brown and Travel Girl Inc. |
| November 28, 2024 | Priyanthan Gopalapillai and 2867668 Ontario Inc. operating as Araka Management |
| November 28, 2024 | Hamid Reza Siami and 1856419 Ontario Inc. operating as Parvaz Travel |
| August 22, 2024 | Kim Coulter operating as Huron Coast Properties |
| July 25, 2024 | Bobby Singh and Rajsri Modhvadia of RM Legal & Business Services Inc. and Gurpreet Kaur of Canaxis Immigration Solutions Inc. |
| May 14, 2024 | Wayne Kretz operating as Niagara Sports Trips |
Convictions:
Current Charges:
March 26, 2025
Shawna Thibodeau operating as Be Free by Shawna Thibodeau
Shawna Thibodeau was charged with one count of operating as a travel agent without being registered. Shawna Thibodeau will appear in court on May 22, 2025, at 9 a.m. in Welland, Ontario.
January 28, 2025
Tarcia Brown and Travel Girl Inc.
Travelgirl Inc. was charged with one count of operating as a travel agent without being registered. Tarcia Brown was charged with one count of operating as a travel agent without being registered and one count of being an Officer and Director of a corporation and failing to take reasonable care to prevent the corporation from committing an offence. Tarcia Brown will appear in court on April 2, 2025, in Whitby, Ontario.
November 28, 2024
Priyanthan Gopalapillai and 2867668 Ontario Inc. operating as Araka Management
2867668 Ontario Inc., operating as Araka Management, was charged with one count of operating as a travel agent without being registered. TICO also charged Priyanthan Gopalapillai with one count of operating as a travel agent without being registered and one count of being an Officer and Director of a corporation and failing to take reasonable care to prevent the corporation from committing an offence. Priyanthan Gopalapillai will appear in court on February 28, 2025 in Newmarket, Ontario.
November 28, 2024
Hamid Reza Siami and 1856419 Ontario Inc. operating as Parvaz Travel
1856419 Ontario Inc., operating as Parvaz Travel, was charged with one count of operating as a travel agent without being registered. TICO also charged Hamid Reza Siami with one count of operating as a travel agent without being registered and one count of being an Officer and Director of a corporation and failing to take reasonable care to prevent the corporation from committing an offence. Hamid Reza Siami will appear in court on January 31, 2025, in Newmarket, Ontario.
August 22, 2024
Kim Coulter operating as Huron Coast Properties
Kim Coulter, operating as Huron Coast Properties, was charged with one count of operating as a travel agent without being registered. Kim Coulter will appear in court on October 8, 2024, at 11 a.m. at 215 Cayley Street in Walkerton, Ontario.
July 25, 2024
Bobby Singh and Rajsri Modhvadia of RM Legal & Business Services Inc. and Gurpreet Kaur of Canaxis Immigration Solutions Inc.
TICO laid a total of 26 charges against:
- RM Legal & Business Services Inc. – five counts of operating as a travel agent without being registered;
- Bobby Singh – five counts of operating as a travel agent without being registered;
- Rajsri Modhvadia – five counts of operating as a travel agent without being registered and five counts of being an Officer and Director of a corporation and failing to take reasonable care to prevent the corporation from committing an offence;
- Canaxis Immigration Solutions Inc. – two counts of operating as a travel agent without being registered; and
- Gurpreet Kaur – two counts of operating as a travel agent without being registered and two counts of being an Officer and Director of a corporation and failing to take reasonable care to prevent the corporation from committing an offence.
Bobby Singh, Rajsri Modhvadia and Gurpreet Kaur will appear in court on September 24, 2024, at 9 a.m. at 950 Burnhamthorpe Rd. W. in Mississauga, Ontario.
May 14, 2024
Wayne Kretz operating as Niagara Sports Trips
Wayne Kretz, operating as Niagara Sports Trips, was charged with one count of operating as a travel agent without being registered. Wayne Kretz will appear in court on July 11, 2024, at 9 a.m. at 445 E Main Street in Welland, Ontario.
Convictions:
February 3, 2025
Holy Destinations Travel Inc. and Mohamed Hachemi Bensaci
Holy Destinations Travel Inc. pleaded guilty to:
- 29 counts of failing to deposit consumer money in a trust account;
- 29 counts of making representations that are false, misleading or deceptive; and
- One count of failing to provide the Registrar with a letter stating the date when it ceased operations and the location of where business records are kept.
Mohamed Hachemi Bensaci pleaded guilty to two counts of being an Officer and Director of a corporation and failing to take reasonable care to prevent the corporation from committing an offence. Mohamed Hachemi Bensaci and Holy Destinations Travel Inc. are scheduled to be sentenced in Court on May 26, 2025.
January 28, 2025
Mark Williams operating as Entertainment Tours
Mark Williams, operating as Entertainment Tours, pleaded guilty to one count of operating as a travel agent without being registered. Mark Williams was fined $8,750, inclusive of a victim surcharge. Mark Williams was also sentenced to a two-year probation
October 24, 2024
Jie Yu (Jenny) Ai and World Travel Inc.
Jie Yu (Jenny) Ai and World Travel Inc. were convicted of a total 11 charges:
World Travel Inc.:
- Four counts of failing to hold money collected from customers for travel services in a trust account;
- Two counts of furnishing false information or documents; and
- Two counts of operating as a travel agent without TICO registration.
Jenny Ai:
- Three counts of being an Officer and Director of a corporation and failing to take reasonable care to prevent the corporation from committing an offence.
Jenny Ai was sentenced to 100 days in jail. Jenny Ai also received a two-year probation order, which includes making restitution payments totalling $32,350. World Travel Inc. received a suspended sentence and a two-year probation.
August 8, 2024
Alistair Hamilton
Alistair Hamilton was convicted of one count of operating as a travel agent without being registered. Alistair Hamilton was fined $12,500, inclusive of a victim surcharge. Alistair Hamilton was also sentenced to a two-year probation.
May 14, 2024
Hoa Van Ngo operating as iTravelHop
Hoa Van Ngo, operating as iTravelHop, was convicted of two count of operating as a travel agent without being registered. Hoa Van Ngo was fined a total of $25,000 inclusive of a victim surcharge. This included $8,000 for the first count and $12,000 for the second count, as the Justice of the Peace noted an extreme disregard for the regulatory environment by continuing to operate as a travel agent without being registered after being charged with the first count of operating while unregistered. Hoa Van Ngo was ordered to pay a further $4,570.69 in restitution.
May 2, 2024
Luxury Travel Centre Inc. and Naroce Vignarajah
Luxury Travel Centre Inc. was convicted of one count of operating as a travel agent without being registered and two counts of failing to hold money in trust. Naroce Vignarajah was also convicted of one count of operating as a travel agent without being registered and one count of being an Officer and Director of a Corporation and failing to take reasonable care to prevent the Corporation from committing an offence. Luxury Travel Centre Inc. was fined $43,750, inclusive of a victim surcharge. Naroce Vignarajah was fined an additional $34,375, inclusive of a victim surcharge and ordered to pay a further $23,765 in restitution. Both Luxury Travel Centre Inc. and Naroce Vignarajah were sentenced to a two-year probation.
March 28, 2024
Jennifer Aide and Rustic Mama Retreats Inc.
Update: Rustic Mama Retreats Inc. has become registered with TICO as a travel agency. Jennifer Aide and Rustic Mama Retreats Inc. pleaded guilty to one count each of operating as a travel agent without being registered. Additionally, Jennifer Aide pleaded guilty to being an Officer and Director of a Corporation and failing to take reasonable care to prevent the Corporation from committing an offence. Jennifer Aide was fined $11,875, inclusive of a victim surcharge. Both Jennifer Aide and Rustic Mama Retreats Inc. received a suspended sentence and a two-year probation.
February 27, 2024
Hameed M. Khan operating as Ottawa Sports Tours
Hameed M. Khan, operating as Ottawa Sports Tours, pleaded guilty to one count of operating as a travel agent without being registered. Hameed M. Khan was fined $18,750, inclusive of a victim surcharge. Hameed M. Khan was also sentenced to a two-year probation.
February 27, 2024
Sonia Guillermo, Jerome Peralta, Amalia Lim and Leila Per
Sonia Guillermo, Jerome Peralta, Amalia Lim and Leila Per pleaded guilty to one count each of operating as a travel agent without being registered. At times, they used the name Wintours Budget Travel. The defendants have been fined a total of $12,800, inclusive of a victim surcharge. Each defendant was also sentenced to a two-year probation.
February 27, 2024
Bermuda Accommodations Inc. and Fiona Campbell
Fiona Campbell and Bermuda Accommodations Inc. pleaded guilty to one count each of operating as a travel agent without being registered. Additionally, Fiona Campbell pleaded guilty to being an Officer and Director of a Corporation and failing to take reasonable care to prevent the Corporation from committing an offence. Fiona Campbell was fined $15,625, inclusive of a victim surcharge. Both Fiona Campbell and Bermuda Accommodations Inc. received a suspended sentence and a two-year probation.
January 5, 2024
Women Entrepreneurs in Advanced Technology (WEATECH) Inc. operating as Eventtours and Liezl Albino
Liezl Albino pleaded guilty to one count of operating as a travel agent without being registered and one count of being an Officer and Director of a corporation and failing to take reasonable care to prevent the corporation from committing an offence. Liezl Albino was fined $12,000 and received a Probation Order, which includes making $33,643 in restitution payments. Liezl Albino also paid $35,000 in restitution to TICO prior to sentencing. WEATECH Inc., operating as Eventtours, pleaded guilty to 12 counts of operating as a travel agent without being registered. WEATECH Inc. received a suspended sentence.
December 4, 2023
Luis Da Silva operating as Bwiti Canada
Luis Da Silva, operating as Bwiti Canada, pleaded guilty to operating as a travel agent without registration, contrary to the Travel Industry Act, 2002. Luis Da Silva was fined $4,375, inclusive of a victim surcharge and received a two-year probation.
October 30, 2023
David J. McCabe and Encore Sport Tours Ltd.
Update: Encore Sports Tours has become registered with TICO as a travel agency. David J. McCabe and Encore Sports Tours pleaded guilty to operating as a travel agent without registration, contrary to the Travel Industry Act, 2002. David J. McCabe was fined $9,375, inclusive of a victim surcharge, received a two-year probation and was ordered to complete educational requirements with TICO. Encore Sports Tours received a suspended sentence.
August 1, 2023
Elite Encounters and Adventures Inc. and Dwayne Pogue
Elite Encounters and Adventures Inc. pleaded guilty to operating as a travel agent without registration. Dwayne Pogue pleaded guilty to being an Officer and Director of a Corporation and failing to take reasonable care to prevent the Corporation from committing an offence. Elite Encounters and Adventures Inc. received a suspended sentence and a two-year probation. Dwayne Pogue was fined $12,500, inclusive of a victim surcharge.
July 5, 2023
Angela Comella and Angie's All Seasons Travel Inc.
Angela Comella pleaded guilty to operating as a travel agent without registration. Additionally, Angie's All Seasons Travel Inc. pleaded guilty to failing to provide customers with a statement or invoice, setting out any fees, levies, service charges and whether those amounts are refundable; and failing to inform customers of the existence of a service charge before selling travel services. Angela Comella was fined $5,625, inclusive of a victim surcharge. Angela Comella was also sentenced to a two-year probation that includes the following terms: to not engage as a travel consultant for or on behalf of any TICO registrant until August 31, 2023; to not apply for TICO registration until November 30, 2024; and to not be a director or an officer of a TICO registrant until November 30, 2024. Angie’s All Seasons Travel Inc. received a suspended sentence and a two-year probation.
May 2, 2023
Representaciones Neward Inc. and Libia Ysabel Guerra Paez
Representaciones Neward Inc. and Libia Ysabel Guerra Paez were convicted of one count each of operating as a travel agent without being registered. Libia Ysabel Guerra Paez was further convicted of one count of being an officer or director and failing to take reasonable care to prevent the corporation from committing an offence. Representaciones Neward Inc. was fined $12,500, inclusive of a victim surcharge. Libia Ysabel Guerra Paez was sentenced to 30 days in jail and a two-year probation.
June 28, 2022
Brian McKinlay operating as Meridien Cottages Inc.
Brian McKinlay, who conducted business as Meridien Cottages, was convicted of one count of operating as a travel agent without being registered.
Brian McKinlay has been sentenced in Court to a $2,500 fine, including a victim fine surcharge, as well as a two-year probation.
May 27, 2022
Sherkston Trailer Rentals Inc. and Patricia D. Levasseur
Sherkston Trailer Rentals Inc. and Patricia D. Levasseur were convicted of one count each of operating as a travel agent without being registered. Sherkston Trailer Rentals Inc. has been sentenced in Court to a $5,000 fine, including a victim surcharge. Both Sherkston Trailer Rentals Inc. and Patricia D. Levasseur were also sentenced to a two-year probation and are prohibited from engaging in activities as a registered Travel Agent, unless they become registered under the Travel Industry Act, 2002.
May 12, 2022
Barrett & Carlysle Travel and Tanja Schneider-Steinbock
Barrett & Carlysle Travel was convicted of 40 counts of selling travel services without being registered. Tanja Schneider-Steinbock, an officer and director of the company and also the manager on record, was convicted of one count of selling travel services without being registered and one count of being an officer or director and failing to take reasonable care to prevent the corporation from committing an offence. Both Barrett & Carlysle Travel and Tanja Schneider-Steinbock have been sentenced in Court to a two-year probation and they are prohibited from applying for or engaging in activities as a registered Travel Agent, as defined in the Travel Industry Act, 2002. The Court ordered Barrett & Carlysle Travel to pay a fine of $3,750, including a victim surcharge.
May 5, 2022
Albarkah Travel and Tours Inc. and Mahmood Bashir
Albarkah Travel and Tours Inc. was convicted on eight counts of failing to deposit consumer money into a trust account and three counts of failing to issue receipts to consumers. Additionally, Mahmood Bashir was convicted of one count of being an officer or director and failing to take reasonable care to prevent the corporation from committing an offence. Mahmood Bashir has been sentenced in Court to a two-year probation and is prohibited from applying for or engaging in activities as a registered Travel Agent, as defined in the Travel Industry Act, 2002. Mahmood Bashir was also sentenced to 200 hours of community service. The court ordered Albarkah Travel and Tours Inc. to pay $25,000 in restitution to the Travel Industry Compensation Fund, on top of the $25,000 in restitution that has already been paid.
July 23, 2021
Moose Travel Company Ltd.
Moose Travel Company Ltd. was convicted of selling travel services without registration. On July 23, 2021, Moose Travel Company Ltd. plead guilty to selling travel services without registration between July 2018 and May 2019 in contravention of the Travel Industry Act, 2002. A fine of $5,500 plus a Victim Fine Surcharge was imposed.
May 14, 2021
Millenium Leisure Travels Inc. and Kailan Ariyarajah
Millennium Leisure Travels Inc. was charged with one (1) count of operating as a travel agent without being registered. TICO also charged Mr. Kailan Ariyarajah with one (1) count of operating as a travel agent without being registered. Mr. Ariyarajah was also charged with one (1) count of being an Officer and Director of the Corporation and failing to take reasonable care to prevent the corporation from committing an offence (operating without TICO registration). Millennium Leisure Travels Inc. pled guilty to operating without registration and was sentenced to a fine of $4,500 (plus Victim Fine Surcharge) payable in 1 year, and 2 years probation. Prior to pleading guilty, Millenium Leisure Travels Inc. paid $2,285 bank draft to TICO in restitution and signed an undertaking not to sell travel services in the future without registration.
March 26, 2021
Michael Shane Adams
Michael Shane Adams was convicted of one count of operating as a Travel Agent without registration contrary to the Travel Industry Act, 2002. The Court ordered Mr. Adams to pay a fine of $3,000 plus Victim Fine Surcharge. Mr. Adams has indicated he will be submitting an application to register with TICO.
November 20, 2020
Karen Gushue
On February 8, 2019, Karen Gushue was convicted on two (2) counts of operating as a travel agent without being registered. She was sentenced to 75 days and 45 days in jail to be served intermittently and concurrently. On appeal, the sentence was varied to 30 days and 20 days in jail to be served concurrently and consecutively.