Whatever
Happened...
Question: What ever happened to the Jimmy's Travel case? Travel-firm owner
making restitutionAnswer: James K.S. Lee, owner of the bankrupt travel agency who pleaded guilty last October to first-degree theft for misapplying client funds, is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 12 by Circuit Judge Victoria Marks.
Lee now resides in Las Vegas and works as a laborer for a building contractor and for his sister, a florist. Attorney Brian Pang says his client has been sending back $1,000 a month in restitution payments since February.
"I think he's sincere. He knows he made a mistake, and is living up to his promise of making good-faith payments," said Pang, who will ask the judge to consider probation rather than jail time for his client.
Lee faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
"Jail time doesn't serve any real interest," Pang said. "He's already being punished, and there's legislation in place now, so I don't think this kind of thing can happen again."
Judge Marks is expected to make a decision on restitution after sentencing.
About $750,000 is owed to 2,500 clients who paid for but never received discounted Las Vegas packages from Jimmy's Travel in 1998. In addition to the $7,000 Lee has sent back this year, $200,000 is available in a trust account.
Restitution payments likely will be paid in small increments over a period of time to the group, rather than individuals, Pang said.
"I think we're looking at about 30 cents on the dollar to be paid out pro rata," Pang said.
Future monthly payments from Lee will be placed in a trust account and distributed to clients, possibly once a year, Pang added.
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