The FBI’s Washington Field Office has spoken with George Mason University’s athletic department regarding a “foreign journey” for the men’s basketball team to the Bahamas, which was postponed immediately before the departure date when the university claims to have found out that the hotel and airline reservations had not been secured.
Social media commentators compared the botched travel plans to the legendary Fyre Festival, the renowned luxury music event that failed to go as planned and ended up with its organizer imprisoned, to the national news next month.
George Mason had a deal with The VII Group, a Georgia-based activities producer and event planner who had recently organized international college baseball team trips to other universities. GMU paid The VII Group about$ 160, 000 for a five-day, four-night journey to Nassau, from Aug. 8-12, which was supposed to feature two exhibition game against local pub or professional teams and beach rides such as a boat ride.

The VII Group had likewise organized a deal through a third-party traveling agency for GMU supporters and donors to” praise on the Patriots in heaven” in addition to the 30-person vacation party for the team.
But instead of cheering in sanctuary, there would be fulminating in Fairfax, Va.
On Aug. 12, the university put out an statement saying that it was “extremely unhappy” to have to cancel the trip. In an following speech, The VII Group said it took “full responsibilities” for what it described as an “unforeseen results”. Christopher Williams, the consultancy’s user, did never respond to an email and text message seeking comment.
The level of the FBI’s recent participation in the matter is unknown. A spokesperson for the GMU athletic department would only make reference to the school’s past announcement, as per bureau policy, and a spokesperson may decline to confirm or refute the existence of an investigation. Through a public records request, Sportico obtained communications revealing the FBI’s call with GMU.
On Aug. 16, Christian Roccia, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Northern Virginia Resident Agency, emailed Zack Bolno, GM U’s assistant athletic director/external interests.
Were you able to arrange a meeting with a representative from your company regarding the subject we discussed? Roccia wrote in the internet.
Bolno, in change, passed that information along to GMU sport director Marvin Lewis, who next forwarded it to Eli Schlam, one of the school’s in-house professionals.
An FBI agent contacted us with inquiries regarding the Bahamas trip, according to Lewis ‘ letter to Schlam. ” Did you give me some recommendations for the best course of action?” I may pursue up, but I wanted to check in before speaking with a rep.
At Schlam’s training, Lewis finally reached up to Carl Rowan, Jr., the main of GM U’s school authorities, for further assistance. No more communication about the situation can be found in the data that Sportico has received.

The VII Group and GMU and The George Mason University Foundation reached an agreement on April 3. The VII Group made an initial payment to The VII Group, which was 35 % of the tour’s cost, ($ 55, 914.60 ), with the remaining money due by late May, according to a copy of the contract obtained by Sportico. The deal stipulated that in the event The VII Group canceled the visit, it had deposit payments made aside from the Foundation’s “original deposit”, which was deemed non-refundable.
Records indicate that GMU sport officials called The VII Group on July 24 and that they were still putting together plans as if the journey was a move.
However, Lewis emailed Williams late in the morning of August 7 to demand full payment for three payments it had been required to make by noon that morning. Following a few hours and less than 24 hours before the team’s scheduled departure to the Bahamas, Lewis sent an additional message to Williams demanding the “full return of all payments” and the “damages for the costs incurred due to the inability to fulfill the agreement.”
According to subsequent emails, Lewis and Williams exchanged a message the following morning in which Williams acknowledged the contract’s breach. Later, he and Bolno wrote a joint statement.
On Aug. 16, Williams emailed Lewis with an update about the refund, saying that the third-party agency The VII Group had contracted should have “everything finalized and paid back” by Aug. 23.
As of late last week, it appeared things were still not yet resolved.
Lewis stated in a letter to” Mason Nation” that the university” continues to work with The VII Group to resolve this matter and secure a full refund for those directly impacted.” We appreciate everyone’s continued support and patience”.
In December, The VII Group will host its annual Holiday Hoopsgiving college basketball event in Atlanta, featuring matchups between Auburn and Ohio State, Florida and ASU, and Grand Canyon and Georgia.