Oprah Fans Taken For A Ride

The head of a travel business was indicted on theft charges for allegedly stealing money from elderly fans of Oprah Winfrey, authorities said Monday.

Terrance M. Hawkins, 44, faced 17 theft counts. Prosecutors said Hawkins charged $500 per person for a bus trip to Chicago from the Washington, D.C., area and tickets to see a taping of the talk show queen's program, but the trips didn't happen.

They said he ran a business known both as Royal Travel and Royal Stages Travel Group, and booked the trips between December 2004 and April 2005

Investigators believe there may be as many as 70 alleged victims, many of them elderly women, for a total of $35,000.

"I can't say that these ladies did anything that demonstrated a lack of caution, but you do want to make sure you check on the business license of people if you can, if you're going to send them a large amount of money," Prince George's County State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey told CBS Radio affiliate WTOP.

If convicted, Hawkins could face a maximum of 15 years in prison. He is presently in police custody and could face additional charges.