Two Unregistered Ontario Agents Get Jail Time After TICO Prosecution

In a case that affected the travel plans of dozens of consumers, two unregistered travel agents have been sentenced to jail time after pleading guilty to multiple offences under Ontario’s Travel Industry Act, 2002.

• Bobby Singh: sentenced to 60 days in jail and two years of probation.
• Rajsri Modhvadia: sentenced to 60 days in jail and two years of probation.
• RM Legal & Business Services Inc.: fined $43,750, inclusive of the victim surcharge. 

These sentences follow guilty pleas for operating as travel agents without TICO registration, and in Modhvadia’s case, failing in their duties as an Officer and Director to prevent the corporation from committing offences.

Consumer losses related to Bobby Singh, Rajsri Modhvadia and RM Legal & Business Services Inc. total $62,660. While a small portion of this amount has been repaid, Singh, Modhvadia and RM Legal & Business Services Inc. have been ordered to pay $58,160 in restitution to the affected consumers.

In the decision, the Justice of the Peace noted the ongoing and intentional nature of the misconduct, which demonstrated a heightened level of moral blameworthiness in this case. 

Singh, RaModhvadia and RM Legal & Business Services Inc. promoted themselves as ticket brokers, offering discounted airfare to consumers. 

They collected consumer funds for both domestic and international airfare, without providing the travel services consumers had purchased or issuing refunds. Consumers would learn at the last-minute that their flights had not been booked, requiring some to rebook expensive last-minute flights. In one instance, this conduct disrupted the travel plans of 85 individuals who were unable to travel to a destination wedding. 

Individuals convicted in Court of offences relating to the Travel Industry Act, 2002 are subject to fines of up to $50,000 and/or prison terms of up to two years. Corporations are subject to fines of up to $250,000.

TICO prosecutes unregistered companies and individuals with the goal of maintaining a level playing field and the integrity of Ontario’s travel marketplace to ensure consumers are confident purchasing travel from registered professionals.