Robert Goodwin promised students and families a trip to Europe. The trip never happened, and a Volusia County judge has ordered him to repay more than $637,000.
Goodwin, 56, pleaded guilty to two counts of grand theft in connection with a fraudulent student travel program involving families tied to Seabreeze High School and Flagler College, according to FOX 35 Orlando.
The judge sentenced him to 25 years of probation and ordered him to pay $637,260 in restitution. Goodwin has already paid $194,000, with $97,000 going to Flagler College victims and $97,000 going to Seabreeze High School victims.
More than $443,000 remains unpaid. If Goodwin violates probation or fails to make restitution payments, FOX 35 reported that he could face prison time.
The Trip Was Supposed To Take Students To Italy And Greece
A man accused of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from Volusia County families through a fraudulent student travel program has pleaded guilty and been ordered to pay more than $637,000 in restitution. https://t.co/MHvCIZekVS
— FOX 35 Orlando (@fox35orlando) June 20, 2026
The case began with a student travel program that was supposed to send Seabreeze High School students and chaperones on a nine-day class trip to Italy and Greece.
The Volusia Sheriff’s Office said each traveler paid at least $3,550 in travel fees. The money was supposed to cover airfare, lodging, and excursions.
One month before the June 2024 trip, the agency emailed students saying it was going out of business and had no money available for refunds, according to the sheriff’s office. Soon after, the website went down, and the agency’s prior phone numbers and email addresses stopped working.
One Family Says The Trip Cost About $7,000
Melissa Heller, whose family spent about $7,000 on the canceled trip, told FOX 35 she is not counting on the rest of the money until it actually arrives.
“I will not believe it until I have a check in my hand,” Heller said.
Former Ninth Circuit Chief Judge Belvin Perry Jr. told the station that collecting the remaining balance could be difficult if Goodwin does not have significant assets or income. Perry also noted that court-ordered restitution generally cannot be discharged through bankruptcy.
The Company Was Already Facing Other Complaints
The Volusia Sheriff’s Office said detectives began investigating Stone and Compass Travel in May 2024 after the case was referred by the State Attorney’s Office. Investigators said the agency was also being sued by several other organizations over similar allegations, including Flagler College in St. Augustine.
Goodwin was later brought back to Florida from California to face charges. FOX 35 reported in an earlier update that he had been adjudicated guilty on two counts of grand theft over $100,000.
Group Trips Need Proof Before The Final Payment
Families paying for a school, club, or college trip can ask for more than a brochure, itinerary, and payment deadline before the final money goes out.
For group travel, the documents that matter are plain: written refund terms, the legal name of the company taking payment, proof of travel insurance or bonding if promised, the payment schedule, and confirmation that flights and hotel blocks have actually been booked. Parent groups and schools can also require a second person to review vendor contracts and payment records before large balances are sent.
The Federal Trade Commission warns travelers to be careful with payment methods that are hard to reverse, including wire transfers, gift cards, payment apps, and cryptocurrency. Credit-card payments usually leave families with more options to dispute a charge if a trip disappears.