BOSTON – Bret A. Gordon, 43, of Waltham, Massachusetts, admitted in federal court today to a brazen scheme that left hundreds of vacationers high and dry, and robbed them of over $2.2 million. Gordon pleaded guilty to six counts of wire fraud and two counts of filing a false personal tax return, a desperate attempt to cover his tracks after systematically looting the now-defunct Tom Harper Cruises.
Gordon established Tom Harper Cruises in 2013, taking a 65% ownership stake in the business specializing in overseas river cruise vacations. As manager, he held the keys to the company’s finances – and apparently, a penchant for high-stakes gambling. Almost immediately, Gordon began diverting customer funds into his own pockets, primarily feeding a casino habit while knowing the company lacked the funds to pay for the cruises people had already purchased.
The operation was simple: take the money, gamble it away, and leave the customers to fend for themselves. Tom Harper Cruises quickly found itself unable to meet its obligations to both regular business expenses and the independent cruise companies providing the actual trips. In June 2015, the agency shuttered its doors and filed for bankruptcy, leaving approximately 400 customers without their vacations – and out a collective $3,167,128. Between September 2013 and June 2015, Gordon personally pocketed around $2,258,500 from the company’s accounts.
But the deception didn’t stop there. Gordon also attempted to evade taxes on his ill-gotten gains. He failed to report approximately $165,000 in income on his 2013 tax return, and a staggering $900,000 on his 2014 return – a clear attempt to conceal the fruits of his fraud. The scheme ultimately unraveled, leading to today’s guilty plea.
U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper has scheduled sentencing for February 8, 2017. Gordon faces a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison for the wire fraud charges, along with three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The tax evasion charges carry a maximum sentence of three years imprisonment, one year of supervised release, and another $250,000 fine. Restitution will also be ordered. While maximum penalties are severe, actual sentencing is determined by the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
The investigation was spearheaded by United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz, Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Field Office, and Joel P. Garland, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigations in Boston. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. Balthazard of Ortiz’s Economic Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case, seeking to recover as much of the stolen funds as possible and bring Gordon to justice for his callous disregard for his customers and the law.”
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Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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