A Hempstead woman who operated a travel agency in East Meadow was arrested for grand larceny after she allegedly took money from customers, who paid for trips that neither never existed or were never booked.
According to Nassau County First Squad detectives, Tavia Thomas, 47, of 378 Westbury Boulevard, was the sole owner of Destiny Travel. located at 1936 Hempstead Turnpike, where she operated as the sole travel agent, allegedly defrauding multiple victims.
On July, 8, 2024, Thomas allegedly received $35,753.98 from nine victims for a Royal Caribbean Cruise departing out of Bayonne, New Jersey. Upon arrival, the victims were notified by an employee that their tickets were fraudulent and that the cruise they booked did not exist.
Thomas allegedly received $5,000 from two victims on July 16, 2024 for a destination wedding. The ALG vacations resort venues were never booked. Several members of the wedding party also made payments to the defendant. The total amount received (including the initial $5,000.00) was $7,660.00. The victims never received refunds.
On September 4, 2024, a victim reported that she booked a 75th birthday trip to the Dominican Republic for her mother through Destiny Travel. Thomas allegedly received $10,034.16 from the victim and her 50 family members. Thomas allegedly did not pay for the accommodations and no refunds were given.
Police charged Thomas with three counts of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, three counts of Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree, and two counts of Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree. She was arraigned on January 6, 2026 at First District Court in Hempstead.
Detectives are asking anyone who feels they may have been a victim of the above crimes or a similar incident to contact Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS or call 911.