Charleston Travel Agency Owner Charged With 32 Counts After Customers Say Paid Vacations Never Materialized

Published Nov. 12, 2026. Case status is current as of that date.

Customers paid a Charleston, West Virginia, travel business for vacation packages to places like Aruba, Jamaica and Norway. According to a criminal complaint described by WCHS-TV, several of them never received confirmation that their airfare or lodging had been booked, and one reported more than $6,000 in unauthorized charges after booking a Disney trip.

On Nov. 11, 2026, the West Virginia State Police announced that the owner of that business had been arrested. Michelle Pauley-LaMaster, 47, of Charleston, who owns and operates LaMaster Travel LLP, was charged with 32 counts, including grand larceny, fraudulent schemes, obtaining goods by false pretenses, worthless check, use of an unauthorized access device and computer fraud [1].

Important: Pauley-LaMaster is charged, not convicted. She is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. We found no public statement from her or from a defense lawyer.

A note on spelling: The State Police release spells her name "Pauley-LaMaster," matching the business name. Booking-photo captions published by WCHS and WV MetroNews use "LeMaster" [2][3]. We use the State Police spelling. We searched the State Police news page at wvsp.gov and did not find the original posting (the public news listing there still shows older items). The text published by My Buckhannon is labeled as a Nov. 11, 2026, news release and matches the State Police wording quoted by WCHS, WV MetroNews and Lootpress.

What police and the complaint allege

According to the West Virginia State Police news release [1]:

• Oct. 29, 2026: Senior Trooper Z.M. Lewis opened an investigation into "allegations of fraud involving LaMaster Travel LLP."
• Nov. 11, 2026: "Following an extensive investigation," Pauley-LaMaster was arrested and charged with 32 counts.
• She was arraigned, bond was set at $500,000 cash only, and she was being held at the South-Central Regional Jail after being unable to post bond.
• "This investigation remains ongoing."

WCHS reported that the release said reports of unauthorized credit card charges and problems with customer payments set off the investigation. The station also described a criminal complaint filed in Kanawha County Magistrate Court [2]:

• Lost vacation money. Several customers reported losing thousands of dollars on vacation packages to destinations including Aruba, Jamaica and Norway.
• No confirmations. Several customers told investigators they received no confirmation after paying for airfare and lodging.
• A refund fight and a bad check. One customer reported making repeated refund requests for more than $6,000 in unauthorized charges after booking a Disney vacation. Pauley-LaMaster is accused of writing a bad check to cover the difference.
• The complaint's conclusion. "These circumstances provide probable cause to believe LaMaster knowingly used false representations and promises to obtain or deprive customers of money, supporting fraudulent schemes allegations," the complaint said, as quoted by WCHS.

Troopers indicated there may be more victims investigators have not yet reached and that more charges may be filed, WCHS reported [2]. The release does not give a total dollar loss, and no customer is named in the public reports. We do not name any.

The person charged and her status

Michelle Pauley-LaMaster, 47, of Charleston, W.Va. Arrested Nov. 11, 2026, by the West Virginia State Police and charged with 32 counts, including grand larceny, fraudulent schemes, obtaining goods by false pretenses, worthless check, use of an unauthorized access device and computer fraud. Arraigned; held on $500,000 cash-only bond [1][4]. These are charges in a criminal complaint; there has been no indictment or conviction reported. The public reports do not give a case number or next court date.

Why travel bookings are an easy target

Travel is paid for up front, often months before the trip, and the customer usually can't tell whether anything was actually booked until a confirmation number arrives or they reach the airport. When a trusted local agent handles flights, hotels and packages on a customer's behalf, the customer may never deal directly with the airline or resort. That gap is where problems can hide, whether the cause is fraud, mismanagement or a business in financial trouble. The State Police and the complaint describe the alleged conduct here as fraud; that has not been proven.

Red flags

These are general warning signs, not claims about any person beyond what the complaint alleges.

• No confirmation numbers. You've paid, but you can't get an airline record locator or a hotel or resort confirmation number you can verify yourself.
• Payment to the agent, not the supplier. A legitimate agency often charges your card on behalf of the airline or cruise line, or tells you exactly who the merchant will be.
• Charges you didn't authorize appear on your card after you give it to the agency.
• Refunds that stall, or a refund paid by personal or business check that later bounces.
• Excuses about "processing" as the travel date gets closer.

What to do if you're targeted

1. Call the supplier directly. Use the airline's, hotel's or cruise line's own phone number or app and ask whether a reservation exists in your name.
2. Pay by credit card. Credit cards generally give you stronger dispute rights than debit cards, checks or cash. If you didn't get what you paid for, contact your card issuer quickly to file a dispute.
3. Check credentials. Ask whether the agency is affiliated with a host agency or accredited by an industry body, and check its complaint history with the Better Business Bureau and your state attorney general.
4. Keep everything: receipts, emails, texts, itineraries and any checks you received.
5. Report it. In West Virginia, contact the West Virginia State Police and the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division. Elsewhere, report to local police, your state attorney general, and the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

The State Police say the investigation remains ongoing [1].

Case status (as of Nov. 12, 2026)

Defendant	Court	Status	Source
Michelle Pauley-LaMaster, 47, Charleston, W.Va. (LaMaster Travel LLP)	Kanawha County Magistrate Court (W.Va.)	Arrested and charged Nov. 11, 2026, with 32 counts (grand larceny, fraudulent schemes, false pretenses, worthless check, unauthorized access device, computer fraud); arraigned; held on $500,000 cash-only bond; not convicted; presumed innocent	[1], [2]

Statuses can change. Investigators say more charges may be filed. No case number or next court date was given.

Sources

1. West Virginia State Police news release, Nov. 11, 2026, as published by My Buckhannon, "Charleston travel agency owner charged with 32 counts in fraud investigation." https://www.mybuckhannon.com/charleston-travel-agency-owner-charged-with-32-counts-in-fraud-investigation/
2. Kristofer Plona and Shelby Burrough, "West Virginia travel agent faces multiple charges in fraud investigation, troopers say," WCHS-TV, Nov. 11, 2026 (citing the State Police release and a Kanawha County Magistrate Court criminal complaint). https://wchstv.com/news/local/west-virginia-travel-agent-faces-multiple-charges-in-fraud-investigation-troopers-say-lamaster-llp-larceny-scheme-check-computer-access-device-state-police-south-central-regional-jail-charleston
3. Jack Carlson, "Charleston business owner arrested, charged by state police with 32 counts of fraud," WV MetroNews, Nov. 11, 2026. https://wvmetronews.com/2026/11/11/charleston-business-owner-arrested-charged-by-state-police-with-32-counts-of-fraud/
4. "West Virginia travel agency owner arrested on 32 fraud-related charges," Lootpress, Nov. 11, 2026 (citing the West Virginia State Police). https://www.lootpress.com/west-virginia-travel-agency-owner-arrested-on-32-fraud-related-charges/

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