Seven years after a Sarasota-based travel agency abruptly canceled trips and closed its doors, customers are finally getting some of their money back.
"Hard to believe it took this long," Al Siugzda of North Port told NBC2. “But knowing we're going to get something back is kind of a bonus because I never expected to get anything.”
Al and his wife Loretta were among hundreds of customers who’d booked trips in 2017 through Legendary Journeys.
Late in the year, customers got word that their trips were canceled. Al Ferguson, the owner of the travel agency, blamed the problems on employee theft, hurricanes and even terrorism. He promised full refunds before shutting the business down.
In 2018, a civil lawsuit filed by the Florida Attorney General revealed the real problems, accusing Ferguson and spouse, Charles Scott, of 'effectively stealing' from customers. The lawsuit said they used company money on massages and to shop at Saks Fifth Avenue, among other things.
In all, more than 800 customers made claims against the company, totaling $3 million in losses.
Legendary Journeys never issued refunds, instead filing an Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors, an alternative to bankruptcy in which an appointee rounds up and sells off company assets to get customers' money back.
The pandemic, lawsuits and bankruptcy filings all dragged out that process.
But this month, a judge approved the final report in the case, signaling it’s finally over. In all, about $600,000 was recovered for customers.
Al and Loretta Siugzda will get back about 40% of what they originally paid. Checks are expected to go out next month.
“Well, (it’s) a little Christmas present,” Al Siugzda joked. “To get that much back after seven years better than nothing at this point."
Meantime, the attorney general won a $12 million judgment in their lawsuit against Ferguson and Scott, some of which could go to customers – if there’s ever actually any money to collect.
While Al and Loretta are glad the seven-year saga is finally finished, there’s one question they still haven’t gotten answered: why weren’t there criminal charges filed against Ferguson?
“You want to see him have a consequence for his actions. And at this point, there is no consequence for him because he still made out in the end,” Al Siugzda said.
“You would think that there would be some legal avenues that wouldn't be quite so complicated. Let's put it that way,” Loretta added.
NBC2 reached out to the Attorney General’s office to ask why criminal charges were not filed in the case but has not yet received a response.