Travel Agent Julie Nimtz Under Investigation For Fraud

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- A travel agent in Celebration who is under investigation for fraud was arrested Friday on charges she failed to register her business.

Osceola County sheriff's deputies obtained an arrest warrant for Julie Nimtz, 53, on suspicion of a probation violation and failure to register as a seller of travel, authorities said.

"There was a lot of people going on this cruise. Now, nobody is going," said Connely Davidson, who thought come September, he and his family would be aboard the Disney Dream and sailing to the Bahamas. "She took a lot of people for a ride for a lot of money."

Davidson and his family are among at least 41 families who lost money. Detectives believe there may be many more victims.

Nimtz, a registered felon, owns Johannes Travel at 412 Campus St. in Celebration and Magical Tours and Travel Inc. Both companies are registered in Illinois, but a check by Osceola County sheriff's detectives investigating her for fraud revealed she had not registered her businesses with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs or the Airline Reporting Corporation, authorities said.

In June, detectives met with numerous victims who indicated they booked a cruise with Johannes Travel, but the company failed to pay the cruise line. The victims were not reimbursed and they were not booked for the cruise, which was scheduled for the Bahamas in September, authorities said.

Deputies said the investigation is ongoing and additional charges are pending.