Elkins Park man sentenced for travel scam

An Elkins Park man who scammed people out of money for Christian pilgrimage tours was sentenced to prison lastWednesday.

John B. Baird, 73, of Elkins Park, was sentenced to five years in prison for taking money from people who thought they were booking trips to Christian pilgrimage sites, according to a July 25 release from the U.S.Attorney’s Office. Baird had pleaded guilty Jan. 30 of this year to four counts of mail fraud.

Baird operated Christian Pilgrim Tours Inc., a travel agency that arranged trips to Christian pilgrimage sites in Europe and the Middle East. He cheated those who signed up for trips, however,cancellingthemwithoutprovidingrefunds to at least 138 victims, many of whom were se- nior citizens.

Baird advertised in Catholic magazines and often enlisted priests or other church leaders to encourage their members to attend CPTtrips.

Between April 2006 and February 2007, Baird defrauded customers of more than $400,000, collectively, the release says. Baird collected money for tours he billed as pilgrimages to places of religious significance. He created brochures for the trips in which he promised customers a full refund if the trip was cancelled, provided that the cancellation was not due to “travel warnings, acts of war, acts of God or terrorism.”

Baird corresponded with his victims by mail, sending solicitations, flight details and receipts for payment, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. Baird’s customers mailed him checks in ad- vance and almost always for the full price of the trip so they could receive a discount. Baird used the money for personal expenses and what trips he did book were booked at the last minute.

Over the course of the fraud scheme, Baird cancelled seven trips. With few exceptions, he did not return the money to the travelers he bilked, the release says. He also received payments by check through the mail.

In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Michael M. Baylson ordered Baird to pay restitution in the amount of $410,340, a $400 special assessment and ordered three years of supervised release.

The case was investigated by U.S. Postal Inspection Service and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew J. Schell and Christopher Diviny.