Vacation planner accused of deceptive business practices

WEST PITTSTON – A West Pittston woman surrendered Tuesday on theft and fraud charges, alleging she defrauded a Shamokin couple while planning a vacation to Italy.

Eileen M. Miner, 69, of Atlantic Avenue, accepted $9,130 ​​from the couple for a vacation in northern and southern Italy but never issued tickets or provided refunds due to cancellation of the vacation, court records show.

Miner faces similar charges recently filed by South Abington Township police and Archbald in Lackawanna County Court.

Miner was arraigned by Forty Fort District Judge David Barilla on charges of deceptive business practices, theft, receiving stolen property, criminal use of communications facilities and access device fraud.

The charges were filed by Wyoming Regional Police. Miner was released on $10,000 unsecured bail.

According to the criminal complaint:

A man from Shamokin contacted Thompson Tours in early 2023 to inquire about a vacation in northern and southern Italy promoted by Miner.

The man made a $2,390 deposit online for himself and his wife, which included cancellation insurance, the complaint said.

Police say in the complaint that the man made the last deposit of $6,740 in person at Thompson Tours on Atlantic Avenue, West Pittston, in December 2023.

Shortly after making the second deposit, the man developed medical problems and advised Miner to file an insurance claim to cancel the vacation.

Miner told the man that a second trip to northern and southern Italy was planned for October 2024, as there was no need to cancel the holiday.

Police say the man was still experiencing medical problems in 2024 and was unable to go on holiday to Italy in October 2024.

Unable to travel, police allege in the complaint that the man advised Miner in early September 2024 to file a claim with the insurance company to cancel the vacation. Over the next few weeks, Miner told the man that she had filed the vacation cancellation claim and emailed a receipt and tracking number, but had not refunded the money to the man.