Earlier this year, the George Mason University men’s basketball team had dreams of playing in paradise as they were offered a chance to travel to the Bahamas for several exhibition games. However, those dreams were dashed as just 24 hours before the scheduled trip the team discovered there were no plans or reservations for such a trip.
Now, the FBI has entered the picture to try and understand whether the whole trip, organized by The VII Group, was a big misunderstanding or a nearly perfect scam.
George Mason University originally paid $160,000 for the 30-person, four-day trip to the Bahamas. This price was to include airfare, accommodations, excursions and the organization of two exhibition games from Aug. 8-12.
According to Sportico, “The FBI’s contact with GMU was revealed in correspondence obtained by Sportico through a public records request.”
The communication between special agent Christian Roccia and several leaders of George Mason University athletics including Marvin Lewis, athletic director, Zack Bolno, deputy athletic director and Eli Schlam, an in-house lawyer. In one email, Lewis is quoted as saying, “We received a call and email from an FBI agent inquiring about the Bahamas trip. Will you advise on the appropriate next steps.”
George Mason University did not discover that their trip was a hoax until the morning of Aug. 7, just 24 hours before they were expecting to depart. According to Sportico, “Lewis emailed Williams accusing The VII Group of being in breach of the trip contract and demanding full compensation of three payments it had been required to make by noon that day.”
The VII Group is the organizer of ‘Holiday Hoopsgiving’ an annual college basketball tournament in Atlanta, so the organization isn’t new to the college basketball scene. That tournament is still scheduled to take place as usual.
It is unclear at this time exactly what the FBI hopes to uncover in their investigation of the failed basketball team trip, but George Mason University officials are still waiting to get their money back.
