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OFFICE OF THE STATE’S ATTORNEY FOR PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY
AISHA N. BRAVEBOY
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
July 12, 2022
For more information, contact:
Denise Douglas
Interim Communications Director
Office of the State’s Attorney, Prince George’s County
240-623-4642 cell or 301-780-8206 office
@PGSAONEWS
UPPER MARLBORO, MD – Former Hyattsville travel agent Lorena Balbuena-Aguilar has pled guilty to a theft scheme. Balbuena-Aguilar defrauded numerous victims out of money on various dates.
From 2018 to 2019 she ran an unlicensed travel agency (Azteka Travel & Services, LLC), targeting primarily the Hispanic community. She accepted money from victims and promised to book their flights. When individuals called the airlines to confirm, they were told that no payment was received. Balbuena-Aguilar would then tell the individuals that there was a mix up with the airline, encourage them to book another flight and that she would reimburse them. However, she never did. In 2016, she pled guilty to running the same scam and was sentenced to home detention.
“I am pleased that Ms. Balbuena-Aguilar has taken responsibility for these crimes,” said State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy. “This is not the first time that she has defrauded individuals, but hopefully this sends a message that we won’t tolerate this. Financial crimes are devastating to the victims and we work hard to get justice for individuals who are taken advantage of.”
Balbuena-Aguilar will be sentenced on August 24th. She is facing 5 years in prison.
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