A Pennsylvania woman is facing serious charges after allegedly diverting more than $40,000 raised for her injured cousin’s recovery to fund her own expenses, including a Carnival cruise.
Investigators say 29-year-old Vanessa Lewis launched a GoFundMe in August 2024 after her cousin was badly injured in a motorcycle accident.
The fundraiser quickly drew in over $40,000 in donations, but the victim’s family later claimed they never saw any financial help.
The probe began when the injured man’s father discovered photos of Lewis enjoying a cruise on social media.
A police report shows the GoFundMe account had more than $40,000 in August 2024 but had dwindled to just $3,000 by March 2025.
Authorities allege Lewis withdrew or transferred more than $37,000, including a $6,200 payment linked to a Carnival Cruise Line sailing from Miami.
Investigators also uncovered a wire transfer of more than $21,000 to another account.
Lewis has been charged with theft by deception and receiving stolen property. Both charges are third-degree felonies in Pennsylvania, carrying potential penalties of up to seven years in prison and $15,000 in fines.
She has been released on $10,000 bail and is due in court on 16th September 2025.
Cruises and Fraudulent Funds
This is not the first case of cruises being linked to financial crime.
In Florida, a church secretary was accused of embezzling more than $500,000, with investigators alleging part of the money paid for cruise holidays.
In Virginia, a private school business manager misused nearly $250,000, including charges for a Royal Caribbean cruise.
Earlier this year, a Wyoming woman was arrested for allegedly stealing church funds and booking a Norwegian Cruise Line trip to Alaska.
Family Fraud
An incident from August 2024 also highlighted how sometimes fraud can take place within the family.
An unnamed person explained their story of how their parents had taken out credit cards in their child’s name, and then used those credit cards to rack up over $10,000 of debt, including purchasing cruise holidays.
The parents also (eventually) admitted to opening more credit accounts in their other children’s names, and even recommended to their children that they file for bankruptcy, but only once the parents had opened up more fraudulent credit cards to access even more funds!
Such cases highlight how cruise holidays can become a luxury outlet for stolen money, with prosecutors across the country continuing to uncover links between fraud and extravagant travel.
TODAY’S BEST CRUISE DEALS!
Don’t miss these offers…
Related Posts
- Parents Commit Credit Fraud To Pay For Cruises
- Planning a Cruise After 70? Watch Out for These Hidden Risks
- Four Passengers Arrested Upon Disembarking Their Cruise, Accused Of Major Fraud
TUI Cruises Makes History As Kira Schikorr Becomes First Female Captain Of The Mein Schiff Fleet
TUI Cruises has appointed Kira Schikorr as the first female captain in the Mein Schiff fleet, marking a landmark moment for the German cruise line. Schikorr has assumed command of…
Royal Caribbean’s Fourth Icon-Class Ship Reaches Major Construction Milestone
Royal Caribbean’s fourth Icon-class cruise ship has moved into a significant new stage of construction, with the first passenger cabins now installed at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland. The…
Cruise Guest Denied Boarding After Travelling To The Wrong Florida Port
A Royal Caribbean guest missed their cruise departure after travelling to the wrong Florida port. The guest has also been denied permission to join the ship at a later stop….
Cruise Line’s World Voyages Aimed At Americans Wanting To Sit Out Trump Presidency
A US-based residential cruise company has revealed a set of extended world voyages designed to keep travellers at sea for years at a time, including itineraries that would see passengers…
