newjerseynewsroom.com

BY TOM HESTER SR.

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

The state attorney general is going after a travel club owner who never acted on a February agreement to repay $2.1 million to customers he and his clubs defrauded, hid his assets, stayed in the travel business, and purchased three luxury vehicles this year.

The attorney general’s office has filed a Motion to Enforce Litigant’s Rights, alleging that Daryl T. Turner of Cherry Hill, the owner of several now-defunct businesses that advertised and sold vacation packages, is in violation of the settlement.

A final consent judgment resolved the action filed by the state in May 2009 against Turner and his businesses Dreamworks Vacation Club, Dreamworks Vacations, Dreamworks, Bentley Travel and Five Points Travel Co., Modern Destinations Unlimited, Blue Water, Vacation Clubs, La Bonne Vie Travel, Dream Vacations International Inc. and Away We Go Promotions.

The consent judgment barred Turner, for a period of five years, from owning or operating any business in New Jersey that is engaged in the sale of vacation packages. The judgment provided for a settlement amount of $3,086,508.62, of which $2,188,728.52 was to go toward consumer restitution.

The state’s motion, filed in state Superior Court in Morristown, alleges that Turner has violated the settlement through his involvement in the ownership and operation of “Travel Deals,” a Marlton-based company that is currently engaged in the sale of vacation packages.

Among other things, the state maintains its allegations are supported by an undercover investigation by the Division of Consumer Affairs, consumer information, lease agreements executed by Turner for Travel Deals’ offices in New Jersey and Connecticut as well as checks written by him.

“The state’s settlement sought to protect consumers by barring Turner from owning or operating a business selling vacation packages for at least five years,” Attorney General Paula T. Dow said Thursday. “It appears that Turner is continuing to operate such a business, and we will seek to make certain Turner complies with the settlement terms.”

After the filing of the consent judgment, the state began its collection efforts, which included sending an information subpoena to Turner. Turner responded by certifying that he has no salary, no bank accounts, no cash on hand and no personal property, including motor vehicles, of at least $1,000.

The Division of Consumer Affairs’ investigation has revealed that a 2011 Land Rover Range Rover, purchased on March 17, is owned by Turner and his wife, Robyn Bernstein; that a 2001 Ferrari, purchased on April 15, is owned by Turner and Bernstein; and that a 2007 Bentley, purchased on April 21, is owned by Bernstein. Consumer Affairs obtained dealership information, which disclosed that Turner traded in a 2007 BMW 750 and a 2004 Hummer that he owned to obtain the Ferrari and Range Rover and that the Ferrari and Bentley were paid for with checks from the account of “VIP Executives c/o Daryl Turner.”

“If Turner can afford to buy luxury vehicles, he can pay restitution to those clients who paid for vacation packages not provided,” Acting Consumer Affairs Director Thomas R. Calcagni said. “Yet, as of today, Turner has not paid one cent to anyone and that’s why we’re going back to court.”

Deputy Attorney General Lorraine K. Rak, chief of the Consumer Fraud Prosecution Section, is representing the state. Investigator Murat Botas is leading the investigation.