Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Investigative Operations Bureau
-Economic Crimes Unit

Janet Marilyn Bender (Arrested)
DOB: 09/13/1961
Address: 6701 Bryan Dairy Road, Apartment #401, Largo
Charges: Seven counts of Grand Theft

What:
Detectives assigned to the Economic Crimes Unit have arrested a suspect for seven counts of grand theft. The suspect is accused of selling fraudulent cruise vouchers to customers. 

When:
The suspect was arrested at about 9:10 a.m. on May 5, 2016.

Where:
The suspect was arrested at her residence located at 6701 Bryan Dairy Road in Largo.

Why/How:
Detectives assigned to the Economic Crimes Unit have arrested a local travel agent for seven counts of grand theft after she sold fraudulent cruise vouchers to customers. 

According to detectives, their investigation began in March 2016 when customers reported that they had bought fraudulent vouchers from the suspect, 54-year-old Janet Bender. Bender was working as an independent travel agent through CruiseOne travel agency.

Detectives say that through the course of the investigation, they were able to identify a total of nine victims that purchased fraudulent cruise vouchers from Bender. The vouchers were for the entire cost of a cruise with a balcony state room for between $200 and $500 each. The victims were asked to pay for these vouchers by cash or by check payable to Bender.

Detectives say that some of the victims used the vouchers to schedule cruises for later this year only to discover that Bender never even scheduled their vacations. 

Detectives also determined that the Pinellas Park Police Department arrested Bender for a similar complaint in March 2016.

Janet Bender was arrested at her residence and charged with seven counts of grand theft. She was transported to the Pinellas County Jail without incident.

If anyone has any information on this case or has become a victim they are asked to contact Detective Quentin Collamore at the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office at (727) 582-6200.

The investigation continues.

Janet Bender booking photograph