New Rochelle Travel Agent Charged with Not Delivering Flights

A New Rochelle woman was arrested Monday in Baltimore for allegedly stealing thousands of dollars from customers who paid for plane tickets but allegedly never received them, Sgt. Peter diSpagna of the Stamford Police Department said Tuesday.

Ruth Yolanda Montoya, 58, of Lawton St., was charged with first-degree larceny.

She had a now-defunct business——that was advertised as serving a niche clientel in the community by touting "[the] location's primary client base is Spanish speaking, but everyone is welcome."

DiSpagna said all 13 families who were victims were Latino, and their losses totaled more than $21,000. 

"The initial family purchased tickets to go to Honduras," diSpagna said. "All 13 of the families were purchasing tickets to go to Central or South American countries."

DiSpangna said the families would arrange for tickets for traveling to these countries through Montoya but when they arrived at the airport they found thatD Montoya allegedly never secured the flights.

After some investigation, it was discovered Montoya had closed the business and filed for bankruptcy, police said. 

A warrant was issued in December of 2011 but Montoya remained at large until Monday. A motor vehicle stop in Baltimore led to her arrest.

She was picked up by Stamford authorities Tuesday.