TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Legal action was filed on Tuesday against a Sarasota-based travel agency that abruptly closed last year, leaving hundreds of customers with ruined vacations and financial losses. The complaint claims that the agency still owes consumers nationwide more than $3 million.
Attorney General Pam Bondi filed the legal action against Legendary Journeys, Inc., president and owner Al Ferguson, Jr. and vice president Chuck Scott. Legendary Journeys, Inc. was a Sarasota-based agency that had 11 branches across the state. The company abruptly closed in October 2017 after collecting millions from travelers and failing to deliver trips or issue refunds.
Related: Florida-based travel agency fails to make vacation payments; travelers' trips canceled
According to the complaint filed Tuesday, Ferguson and Scott took money paid by customers for vacation packages and used it to pay personal expenses, then filed an assignment for the benefit of creditors—a legal proceeding similar to bankruptcy.
According to My Florida Legal, the two even ran up a $44,000 one-day bill at Saks Fifth Avenue just prior to announcing closure.
More than 800 customers filed legal claims against Legendary, totaling more than $3 million. The company promised to refund consumers, but assets are estimated at this time to be insufficient to pay creditors in full.
The Attorney General’s Office is seeking permanent injunctive relief, full restitution and the imposition of civil penalties and fees.
Consumers who paid money for travel from the above-named entities or individuals can file a complaint by calling 1(866) 9NO-SCAM or file online at MyFloridaLegal.com.
To view the complaint, click here.
