Black Travel Movement Founder Faces Arrest Warrant Over ‘Failed’ Black Yacht Week
The Black Travel Movement has provided a community of Black travelers inspiration, experiences and tips via social media, however its founder is now in hot water.
According to WUSA 9, an arrest warrant has been issued for Reginald Cummings for his role in a 2018 week-long luxury yacht experience that the legal system has deemed a failure.
Wake County, North Carolina Superior Court Judge Mark A. Sternlicht signed the arrest order for failure to comply with the legal process and contempt of court.
Cummings is accused of failing to deliver the luxury yacht charter trip, both for its passengers and the company from which the boats were leased, court documents show. He claims Dream Yacht Charter, from whom he leased the vessels, failed to supply adequate provisions and boats for the excursion, dubbed “Black Yacht Week.”
Dream Yacht Charter denied those allegations, instead claiming Cummings failed to pay a remaining $519,934 balance for boats, staff and provisions it supplied for the trip. Dream Yacht Charter sued Cummings and Black Travel Movement for unjust enrichment, breach of contract and fraud.
“I am always open to having a conversation and presenting my side; however, in light of this, I need to contact an attorney,” Cummings said to WUSA 9, noting he was unaware of the arrest order until informed by the news station.
A 2019 investigation of the trip from a year earlier revealed that attendees complained that many of the boats had mechanical issues and the fine cruising they paid for ended up being hot dogs and hamburgers. All vacationers who spoke with WUSA 9 said the luxury vacation did not meet their expectations.
After going to court in late 2020, a judge found Cummings at fault and ordered him to pay a $1,655,651 settlement to Dream Yacht Charter.
“To date, neither defendant has retained new counsel, made initial disclosures, responded to discovery, conferred with plaintiffs about the proposed scheduling order, or designated … a witness,” U.S. District Judge Terrance Boyle, who presided over the case, told the news station.
A $60,000 deposit for the 2018 vacation was the only money Black Travel Movement paid to Dream Yacht Charter, despite the former company assuring that the balance would be paid in full.
