DAYTONA BEACH — A travel agent accused of scamming Seabreeze High School students out of thousands of dollars reached a plea agreement that requires him to return the money within 120 days. Additionally, he must continue paying Flagler College in St. Augustine.
Robert Safford Goodwin was extradited last year to Daytona Beach from California to face charges that he defrauded Seabreeze High School students and chaperones out of thousands of dollars. Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood invited the students to the Daytona Beach International Airport when Goodwin was brought back in handcuffs.
When he arrived Dec. 18, Seabreeze High School students, some chanting “You’re a scumbag,” greeted Goodwin. Other students were holding posters of his mugshot, while parents and the media were also in attendance.
Goodwin was charged with two counts of organized scheme to defraud over $50,000. Goodwin was also charged with two counts of grand theft over $100,000. One of the grand theft counts lists more than 30 victims. The other grand theft count lists the victim as Flagler College in St. Augustine.
Goodwin ran a travel agency, Stone & Compass Inc., which collected at least $3,550 from each person for a 2024 student trip to Italy and Greece. About a month before departure, Goodwin notified Seabreeze High School that the trip had been canceled. But he did not return the money to more than 40 parties, according to a complaint filed by the Florida Attorney General’s Office.
Goodwin, 56, wearing an orange jail jumpsuit and his hands in handcuffs, stood before Circuit Judge Elizabeth Blackburn on June 18 at the S. James Foxman Justice Center in Daytona Beach.
The judge reviewed the terms of the plea agreement with Goodwin.
Travel agent must repay Seabreeze High School students, chaperones
The State Attorney’s Office dropped the two counts of organized scheme to defraud against Goodwin. He was adjudicated guilty of the two grand theft counts, according ot the agreement.
Goodwin was sentenced to 180 days and received credit for the 183 days, time-served, according to the negotiated plea.
The plea agreement requires Goodwin to serve 25 years’ of probation.
The plea also requires Goodwin to pay $536,075 to Flagler College.
Goodwin must also pay $101,185 to the Seabreeze High School victims.
Goodwin has already made a $194,000 lump sum payment to the State Attorney’s Office, according to Assistant State Attorney Erica Kane.
Of that lump sum, $97,000 will go to the 25 remaining Seabreeze victims, according to the terms of the plea agreement. The other $97,000 will go to Flagler College.
Goodwin must pay another $15,000 within the first 120 days of his probation.
Of that $15,000, $4,186 will go to Seabreeze students and chaperones, fulfilling his obligation to those victims.
The rest of the $15,000 will go to Flagler College.
Travel agent must continue paying Flagler College in St. Augustine
After 150 days, Goodwin will be required to pay $1,427.53 per month to Flagler College, which would still be owed $428,260.
Blackburn warned Goodwin that failure to make a payment is a probation violation and he could face up to 60 years in prison.
The negotiated plea allowed Goodwin to transfer his probation to Massachusetts.
Goodwin is also prohibited from organizing travel for any group or institution.
He must also provide his banking information as part of his probation. And he must turn over his passport.
Defense attorney: Ex-travel agent has job lined up in landscaping
Defense attorney David Haas represented Goodwin and said he has a job lined up in landscaping.
When asked whether Goodwin would be able to pay the large sum working in that field, Haas said the landscaping was different from single-family Florida lawns. He said it will involve multi-million dollar estates.
Haas said the trip for Seabreeze students was organized a year in advance, but in the interim, the cost of fuel went up, so the cost of the flight increased and the original price would no longer cover the cost. That’s why Goodwin canceled the trip, he said.
Haas also said that even before the agreement, Seabreeze students, parents and chaperones were able to recoup some of the money which was credited back to their accounts.
Goodwin’s wife was present for the hearing but she declined to comment.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Travel agent accused of scamming Seabreeze High students to return money
Reporting by Frank Fernandez, Daytona Beach News-Journal / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Frank Fernandez, Daytona Beach News-Journal | USA TODAY Network
