Band Trip Ripped Off: ‘Ope’ Saaga Gets 5 Years

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A supposed travel agent has been brought to justice for a callous scheme that robbed students of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Calliope R. Saaga, also known as “Ope,” 40, of Saratoga Springs, Utah, received a five-year federal prison sentence today, with no chance of parole, for stealing $360,000 from the Willard High School Band Boosters.

U.S. Chief District Judge Greg Kays didn’t just hand down the prison term; he also ordered Saaga to pay a hefty $782,480 in restitution. The sentence stems from a guilty plea entered on October 15, 2014, to a charge of wire fraud. But this wasn’t a one-time offense. Saaga has already admitted to similar fraudulent activities targeting schools in Arkansas, facing sentencing on those charges March 25, 2015, in the Western District of Arkansas.

The scheme unfolded in January 2011 when Present America Tours, LLC – Saaga’s business – contracted with the Willard High School Band Boosters to organize a June 2012 trip to Hawaii for over 300 students and chaperones. Saaga was entrusted with booking everything: flights, hotels, transportation, meals, tours, and insurance. Between February 2011 and January 2012, the band boosters dutifully wired 12 payments of $30,000 each, believing their students were on track for a dream vacation.

But Saaga didn’t book a single reservation. Instead, he treated the band’s funds as his personal piggy bank, funneling the money into his lavish lifestyle. Evidence revealed at least 47 days were spent gambling in Las Vegas, Nevada, while the students of Willard High School were being systematically defrauded. The result? The trip was canceled, and the band boosters were left with a $360,000 loss.

The deception didn’t stop at the theft. Even as he was draining the band’s account, Saaga sent emails to the Willard High School director of bands, falsely detailing trip preparations. This calculated tactic lulled the boosters into a false sense of security, delaying their discovery of the fraud. The total loss across all three school districts targeted by Saaga amounts to $782,480.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Abram McGull II prosecuted the case, with a thorough investigation conducted by the IRS-Criminal Investigation, the FBI, and the Willard, Mo., Police Department. This case serves as a stark reminder that those who prey on the hopes and dreams of students, and the dedication of school communities, will face the full weight of federal justice.