Waterford Travel Agent Charged With Stealing Clients' Money

WATERFORD (WWJ) - A Waterford woman who ran a travel agency from her home has been charged with stealing money from clients.

Fifty-year-old Penny Lyn Kane on Friday was arraigned in 51st District Court in Waterford on six charges, including larceny, stealing a financial transaction device without consent, and failing to file a tax return. She was ordered jailed on a $75,000 bond and is due back in court for a preliminary exam on May 14. She faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted as charged.

Waterford Police Chief Dan McCaw said the department has received more than 80 complaints about Kane, who owned and operated Penny's Personal Travel Agency out of her home near Cooley Lake and Cass Elizabeth roads. Kane had been offering all-inclusive trips to exotic destinations like Hawaii, Mexico and California at prices that were far lower than any competitor.

Some potential clients claimed Kane took money from them for vacations, but never purchased plane tickets or made hotel reservations.

Prosecutors say Kane stole more than $300,000 from clients, in addition to over $36,000 worth of credit card fraud. In court on Friday, however, Kane claimed she's broke, telling a judge "I have no job, no income, no means."