THIEF'S LUXURY CRUISES PAID WITH HARD TIME.

Byline: Amy Raisin Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - By the time he embarked on his third Caribbean cruise in a two-moth span, Christopher Brito had developed a taste for more than the ocean breezes, staterooms and midnight buffets.

Passing bad checks would buy more than just vacations.

``You can tell by the on-board purchases that he got more bold as time went on,'' said Detective John Howard of the Santa Clarita sheriff's station. ``He bought everything from art to alcohol to souvenirs. It's easy to spend money when it's not yours.''

Brito, 28, was sentenced to 16 months in state prison last month for writing 12 checks and using a debit card from two closed accounts to pay for the trips and treats aboard a Princess Cruises ocean liner - to the tune of more than $13,000.

The former travel agent and Orange County resident was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport on March 29 before he could board a plane to Florida, where he planned to set sail on a fourth cruise in less than four months.

How was he able to repeatedly pay for lavish vacations and on-board entertainment using checks from closed accounts? A spokeswoman at Princess Cruises corporate headquarters in Valencia had no comment.

Investigators, however, offered an explanation for how Brito's bad checks bought passage aboard the same one-week Caribbean route - including stops in the Cayman Islands and Mexico - without detection.

``We got the case between the second and third cruises,'' Howard said. ``But there were so many addresses - from his driver's license to checks and delivery addresses - it was important that we get the right guy.''

The checks were eventually discovered by one of Princess Cruises' accounting departments, and detectives at the Santa Clarita sheriff's station were called. As for the on-board purchases, Howard said the ship's employees did not check the validity of Brito's debit card while at sea.

From a clear plastic bag marked with a case number and the word Brito in black ink, Howard pulled out a stack of photocopied receipts that detailed the on-board booty.

There are charges for a men's clutch bag and various cocktails and beer. Brito, or the guests he invited - investigators believe he brought at least three guests during his fraudulent travels - purchased socks, shirts and hats, a stuffed toy, a duffel bag, sunglasses, a travel fan, a clock and toiletries.

Below are some of the larger purchases, all of which were made using a personalized card issued to passengers who provide a credit card - or debit card, in Brito's case - upon embarking.

--Thomas Kinkade painting, $494

--Two art animation cels, $1,330

--Cash advances from on-board casino, $4,500

--Perfume, $100

--Jewelry, $71

Brito was alone when he was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport, according to investigators. Asked why he did it, Brito was frank, Howard said.

``I wasn't there that day. The reason he gave to investigators was that he thought he'd try it, but he never thought it would work. Then the tickets arrived. He said he knew he'd get caught and figured he'd keep doing it until he did.''

From papers and receipts gathered during the investigation, Howard produced seven checks totaling $12,328 that were passed to pay for travel only. The artwork acquired on the third cruise totaled more than $12,000. Much of the art was never shipped to him, and Brito returned two pieces that did arrive, Howard said.

By pleading guilty to one felony count of writing worthless checks, Brito agreed to serve a 16-month sentence in state prison, as well as paying restitution to Princess Cruises, Howard said.

After his arrest, Brito admitted that he made one more purchase that authorities would likely consider related to his crime.

``I guess he had some money left over from the cash he got at the casino,'' Howard said. ``He used that to buy tickets to the Long Beach Grand Prix. I was able to return those.''

The three sets of grandstand tickets and garage passes for the Grand Prix totaled $474.

Brito is being held at Men's Central Jail in downtown Los Angeles, awaiting assignment to a state prison.

Amy Raisin, [phone]

amy.raisin(at)dailynews.com