Travel agent charged with fraud as teachers’ vacation funds missing

A 39-year-old St Catherine travel agent, who allegedly collected over $1 million from a group of teachers but failed to book their vacation or return the money, is being investigated for similar crimes in other parishes.

Denise Falconer, from Waterloo district in Ewarton in St Catherine, has been charged with six counts of fraudulent conversion.

Her agency is Bleu Sky JA Travel.

Her $100,000 bail was extended when she appeared before the St Catherine Parish Court on Tuesday. 

Her next court date is September 10, 2024. 

But as she left the prisoner’s dock, Falconer was taken back into custody. The police revealed that she is being investigated for similar offences in other police divisions. 

Regarding the current charges brought against so far, it was alleged in court that several teachers at a school in Ewarton paid $1.3 million to Falconer to book 20 rooms at a hotel on the north coast for Labour Day weekend in May.

She reportedly confirmed the date after receiving the money by bank transfer.

However, on May 22, two days before the start of the vacation, she reportedly advised the teachers that their vacation was cancelled.

The court was told that Falconer told one of the teachers that she paid over the money to an unnamed third party.

The matter was reported to the Ewarton police and Falconer was arrested.

She was subsequently charged following a question and session in the presence of her lawyer.

– Rasbert Turner 

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