Nixon sues travel agent over scam

ST. LOUIS -- A St. Louis travel agent sold trips to Cancun, Mexico, for a reunion of Soldan High School's class of 1974, but didn't provide the trips, Attorney General Jay Nixon said Thursday.

Nixon on Wednesday obtained a temporary restraining order prohibiting Tina Marie Flenoy from operating as a travel agent. He has also sued, asking the court to require Flenoy to pay full restitution as well as penalties. And, he is seeking a court order banning her from owning, managing or operating a travel agency.

A class reunion committee signed an agreement in January with Flenoy's RMT Travel & Cruises. The committee advised class members to send Flenoy a $300 deposit; some paid in full for the trip in advance.

Nixon said committee members discovered in April that Flenoy had not made reservations for the trip. Since then, Flenoy has provided 10 refunds, but still owes $22,580 to others, Nixon said.