VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – A Volusia County man accused of defrauding more than 100 students out of hundreds of thousands of dollars for a European trip that never materialized faced a judge Thursday, who ordered him held on $4 million bond.
Robert Goodwin appeared before Judge Dennis Craig on four felony counts, including two counts of organized scheme to defraud over $50,000 and two counts of grand theft over $100,000. The charges stem from allegations he collected approximately $773,110 from students at Seabreeze High School and Flagler College for an overseas trip that was canceled weeks before departure.
“He knew he was under investigation and fled the jurisdiction to Los Angeles, where it took two and a half months to track him down,” prosecutors told the court during Goodwin’s first appearance hearing.
Detective Weaver, the chief investigator on the case, testified that while the current charges involve about $700,000 in losses, the total scope of the alleged fraud approached $1 million. According to Weaver, approximately 45% of the Seabreeze High School victims chose not to pursue prosecution.
[BELOW: 100 Volusia County students, chaperones lose $400K in travel scheme]
The investigation revealed that much of the money was transferred to overseas financial institutions, including a Bulgarian national bank. Investigators also discovered Goodwin owned a subsidiary company called Sterling Compass based in Bulgaria, along with what may be a 2,200-acre retreat in that country.
Despite requests from the public defender for a lower bond amount, Judge Craig maintained the $1 million bond on each count, citing Goodwin’s flight risk and potential access to overseas assets. The judge also ordered Goodwin to surrender his passport and prove any bail money comes from legitimate sources.
Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood personally oversaw Goodwin’s return to the jurisdiction, ensuring he faced his alleged victims. “I think it’s important you look the people you screwed over in the eyes,” Chitwood told Goodwin during the transport.
[BELOW: Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood confronts suspect accused in major fraud case]
Melissa Heller, a parent who lost $20,000 in the alleged scam, expressed relief at Goodwin’s arrest.
“I am very upset, but I feel really good that we finally got justice. And I didn’t get my 20K back he stole, seeing him being put in that car just shows it pays off and they do get the bad guy,” she said.
Goodwin remains in custody at the Volusia County jail. His case will proceed through the court system, with his public defender having the option to request a bond reduction hearing before the assigned trial judge.