MONROE COUNTY, Fla. – A Key West couple has been arrested on charges of grand theft and operating an unregistered travel agency after allegedly defrauding seven individuals out of thousands of dollars for a promised trip to Cuba. Steven Carl Sanchez, 53, and Traci Leann Culiver-Sanchez, 60, were taken into custody on Monday following an investigation by the Sheriff’s Office.
The couple, operating under the business name Majestic Seas Luxury Charters, allegedly promised the victims a luxurious trip to Cuba. Each victim reportedly paid approximately $4,000 for the travel package.
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According to the Sheriff’s Office, the victims were scheduled to meet the suspects at Miami International Airport on December 5, 2024, for their departure. However, Sanchez and Culiver-Sanchez arrived late, causing the group to miss their initial flight. While the flights were rebooked, the entire trip was abruptly canceled by the suspects just hours later, and the victims never received refunds.
One of the victims filed a complaint with the Sheriff’s Office, leading to an investigation that revealed neither Sanchez nor Culiver-Sanchez were registered with the Florida Department of Agriculture as sellers of travel, a legal requirement for operating a travel agency.
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Detectives obtained arrest warrants for the couple, and they were subsequently booked into jail on Monday. They face charges of grand theft and offering/selling travel services without registration to a terrorist state.
Authorities are urging anyone who may have been victimized by Majestic Seas Luxury Charters or Steven Carl Sanchez and Traci Leann Culiver-Sanchez to come forward. The investigation is ongoing.
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