San Diego
Twin brothers who operated a travel agency in 1988 that stranded 185 junior high school students on the East Coast after running out of money pleaded not guilty Thursday to conspiracy to commit mail fraud.
Anthony and Leo Casias, both 50 and from San Diego, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Roger McKee and were told to return to court Feb. 26.
The brothers, who operated East/West Travel and Tours in Mission Valley, became the focus of publicity in May, 1988, when the students’ passes for hotels and airlines were not honored. The passes were part of a travel package sold by the agency.
Other schools that had planned trips through the same firm had those trips canceled.
The felony charge against the brothers alleges that they conspired to use the mail to defraud students and their parents.
The Casias brothers were ordered released on $75,000 bail each, secured by a property bond.
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