A travel agent, Christine Hazelton from Medford, has been charged with theft for allegedly stealing money from her clients.
Hazelton, who ran her company “The Independent Traveler” from her home, allegedly was selling a travel package called “Masterpiece Classics of the English Midlands” and taking the money for it before telling the clients the trip was cancelled. Authorities say that Hazelton informed the clients that the money would be refunded although this was never done. Police estimate that around $45,000 was stolen total.
Theft by deception in New Jersey can be graded from a disorderly persons offense to a second degree crime depending on factors such as the value of the property involved. In this case ($45,000), Hazelton could be charged with theft by deception in the third degree which carries a New Jersey State Prison sentence of 3 to 5 years.
For more information on this case, access the nj.com article entitled “Medford travel agent charged with stealing $45,000 from clients.”
