More than 100 customers of an Omaha travel agency say they paid thousands of dollars for vacations that never happened, and now the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Nebraska says it is weighing criminal charges against the woman behind it. Connie Seastedt, owner of Captivating Travels by Connie, has been under FBI investigation for months over allegations that she took client payments and credit card numbers for trips that were canceled, never booked, or paid for with checks that bounced.
The update came as some of Seastedt's alleged victims told WOWT they received an automated email from the U.S. Attorney's Office stating that prosecutors are considering charges against her, and inviting them to weigh in on a possible plea agreement or other case outcomes. U.S. Attorney Lesley Woods said in a statement that the FBI investigation remains ongoing and is a priority for her office, which she said has dedicated significant resources to what she called a complex case. Woods said every victim deserves to have their losses investigated.
Sidney Richey, one of the alleged victims, said Captivating Travels by Connie never booked her getaway despite using her credit card number, according to the station's report. She filed a fraud claim with her credit card company, which initially denied it, and she has publicly called on the U.S. Attorney's Office to take action against Seastedt. Bree Callihan, another person affected, told the outlet she wants a resolution and said victims cannot be left in limbo any longer.
A Pattern of Canceled Trips and Bounced Checks
The FBI believes the alleged fraud, which may have involved clients' credit-card information, took place between June 2024 and August 2026, according to KETV. Heidi Gatling told the same outlet that victims have flooded the U.S. Attorney's Office with calls and emails demanding action, and that a victims' Facebook page showed 110 customers had filed reports with the FBI. Gatling herself said she paid Seastedt more than $13,000 for a trip that was never booked, the station reported separately, while Stacy Russ said canceled airline tickets and an unbooked resort left her family out $42,000.
Other clients described a similar pattern of broken promises. Derek Hendricksen and his wife, Courtney, received five refund checks from Captivating Travels by Connie totaling $13,000, and every single one bounced. The Better Business Bureau, which investigated the business in August, said consumers reported reservations canceled due to nonpayment, refund checks that couldn't be cashed for insufficient funds, and unauthorized charges appearing on their credit cards. The BBB now lists Captivating Travels by Connie as out of business, with Seastedt named as its owner.
FBI Involvement Predates the Public Complaints
The FBI's involvement reportedly began well before most clients realized they had lost money. The agency got involved shortly after concerns about Seastedt were first reported on June 18, 2025, and a travel management company had already terminated her contract and reported her to the FBI before dozens of clients lost money on canceled prepaid trips, per the same outlet's reporting. The FBI has publicly asked potential victims to file reports, and has said it wants to hear from anyone who may have been financially affected by Seastedt or Captivating Travels by Connie, according to KETV.
The number of people coming forward has kept climbing as the case has developed. By late September, Gatling said 20 alleged victims had responded to her outreach specifically over lost prepaid bookings, as reported by 1011now.com. Membership counts for online victim groups have varied between reports — 1011now.com cited a Facebook group of 300 members in September, while an earlier WOWT report cited a page called Connie Seastedt Victims with 242 members in August.
Tax Lien Adds to Financial Scrutiny
Separate from the fraud allegations, financial records show mounting pressure on Seastedt's household finances. The IRS filed a federal tax lien in April against all property belonging to Seastedt and her husband, with the lien exceeding $175,000, and the Sarpy County Register of Deeds has reported that the lien remains active. Zillow has listed a home owned by the couple for $449,000.
Seastedt's attorney has not replied to requests for comment cited in WOWT's reporting. The U.S. Attorney's Office has not announced a final charging decision, and officials say the investigation is continuing as more potential victims come forward.
