BRIEFLY : Crime: Travel Agent Accused in $500,000 Scam

The former owner of a South Bay travel agency was to appear in court Wednesday to face charges that she stole almost $500,000 from more than 400 Palos Verdes Peninsula clients, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies said.

Susan Reindl, former owner of Apollo Travel Service at 29135 S. Western Ave., Rancho Palos Verdes, was arrested by deputies Tuesday after a three-year investigation into the travel agency, which closed in 1991 after operating for at least 12 years.

Reindl has worked as a travel agent in other agencies over the past three years, but because she did not own the agencies, it is unlikely that she defrauded customers, said Sgt. Barbara White.

Reindl, 48, used a number of methods to defraud potential travelers, White said. For example, Reindl would take money from customers, but fail to make reservations, or that Reindl would make reservations and cancel them later.

Reindl’s arrest warrant listed 74 felonies involving grand theft and violations of travel promotion laws. White said it took three years to sift through all the necessary documents before deputies could arrest Reindl.

Some of the alleged victims, meanwhile, formed the Victims of Apollo Travel support group.

Reindl was working at a Harbor City travel agency when she was arrested, but White declined to release the agency’s name.