CAMARILLO : Tour Operator Is Accused of Theft
A Camarillo tour operator was arraigned Friday in Municipal Court for allegedly stealing more than $200,000 from people who paid for trips to the Far East through his company.
Sukh Dev Sharma, 55, also known as Dave Sharma, was charged with 38 felonies, including 19 counts of grand theft, according to the Ventura County district attorney’s office. Sharma is also accused of 19 counts of cancellation of transportation and one misdemeanor charge of failing to deposit travel promoter’s receipts in a trust account.
Authorities say Sharma, who operated Mandala Tours in Camarillo, is suspected of failing to provide trips for 19 people who made travel arrangements through his company, allegedly bilking them out of about $205,000.
If convicted, Sharma faces up to 10 years in prison.
He remained in custody Friday in lieu of $250,000 bail. A preliminary hearing was set for Jan. 4.
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