Journey agent pleads responsible to defrauding prospects in 4 counties

A journey company proprietor and operator who defrauded dozens of shoppers out of a whole bunch of hundreds of {dollars} pleaded responsible Monday to 38 counts of theft.

Eileen Marie Miner ran Thompson Tours, a well known and as soon as revered journey company, for many years. Charges of theft and fraud filed in opposition to the 70-year-old West Pittston resident broken the fame of the company, which is now not in enterprise.

Ultimately, Miner was charged with theft in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Northumberland and Centre counties. She faces a most of 20 years in jail. A sentencing listening to has not been set, based on Lackawanna County District Attorney Brian Gallagher.

Signs of bother

An indication that the Lackawanna County enterprise was in bother got here Oct. 11, 2024, when Joseph Traino reported issues a few failed journey to Italy to South Abington Twp. police. Traino instructed police he and his spouse had deliberate the journey by way of Thompson Tours. He mentioned they paid about $9,000 for the journey, to incorporate Sicily and the Amalfi Coast.

Three different members of the family had booked the identical journey, bringing the quantity paid to the journey company, of which Miner was the only proprietor, to over $24,000.

Traino instructed police that simply hours earlier than they had been supposed to depart for his or her journey Oct. 7 they obtained an electronic mail that the journey had been canceled.

Police searched by way of state information for Miner’s title and located Archbald police had a warrant out for her.

South Abington Twp. police contacted Archbald police, who mentioned 4 Archbald residents reported fraud and theft associated to Thompson Tours.

Further investigation indicated that Miner had been discovered within the parking zone of Mohegan Pennsylvania in Plains Twp. making an attempt self hurt earlier that week and was at a facility receiving therapy.

Police suspected Miner was utilizing her enterprise funds to bankroll a playing drawback and obtained a warrant for her account exercise.

Devasting life occasion

When Mike and Andrea Shemansky of Lowhill Twp., Lehigh County, had been planning a visit to Switzerland for July 2024, that they had no reservations about contacting Miner to plan their particular occasion, a celebration of their twenty fifth anniversary.

In 2014, the couple took a bus journey out west by way of Thompson Tours.

Mike Shemansky mentioned that journey went completely and remembers visiting websites similar to Mount Rushmore and Zion National Park.

So, when Miner requested that cost be made by checks or money, the couple didn’t suspect something was amiss.

The couple even purchased journey insurance coverage as an added safety in opposition to dropping cash.

So when Mike Shemansky realized he wouldn’t be capable of journey due to a neck drawback, the 2 had been certain they may recoup the $8,000 that they had put into the journey. But, the longer they waited, the extra they realized one thing was improper.

It was then that Shemansky noticed a media report about prices filed in opposition to Miner.

In some methods, he mentioned, life isn’t the identical.

“It’s even a strain on our marriage,” he mentioned.

When Shemansky heard that Miner had plead responsible, he was glad.

“She knows she did something wrong,” he mentioned. “I don’t wish her any harm, but there are consequences for what we do.”

Charges upon prices

As the phrase received out that Miner was going through fraud and theft prices, increasingly folks got here ahead saying in addition they had been defrauded by her enterprise.

Victims of Miner’s crime embrace folks from Edwardsville, Wright Twp., Hanover Twp., West Pittston, Pittston Twp. and Duryea, based on legal complaints.

Investigation into the crimes confirmed a sample of misleading conduct that included forging journey confirmations, offering faux itineraries and making false guarantees of refunds.

“I extend my sincere gratitude to the investigators and prosecutors from Luzerne, Northumberland and Centre counties for their patience, hard work and collaboration in bringing this matter to conclusion,” Gallagher mentioned.

Originally Published: September 18, 2025 at 2:54 PM EDT