FAIRFAX, Va. — A man from Atlanta faces charges of fraud after George Mason University’s men’s basketball team was compelled to cancel a planned trip to the Bahamas this year, following an issue involving travel that was never arranged.

Maurice Smith, 44, who is the head of the Eugene Toriko travel agency, had the legal charges against him revealed on Thursday in U.S. District Court located in Alexandria, Virginia.

As outlined in a document from the FBI, George Mason had spent nearly $160,000 for a trip that was set to take place in August. The journey was intended to include two exhibition basketball games along with recreational activities like a catamaran tour.

The funds were directed to a sports marketing firm that had a subcontractual agreement with Smith’s agency, the affidavit indicates.

The basketball team called off the trip just a day before their planned departure after discovering that all travel arrangements had been nullified due to nonpayment.

According to the FBI affidavit, Smith operated his travel business akin to a Ponzi scheme. The document alleges that the funds provided by the university for the trip were instead used by Smith for his personal expenses and to offer partial refunds to earlier clients whose trips were also canceled.

Attempts to contact Smith’s agency via email went unanswered, and court documents do not indicate that he has hired legal representation.

The affidavit notes that in September, Smith sent a letter to the university explaining that the cancellation was due to a “logistical error,” expressing his intention to “learn from this experience” and to implement stricter protocols to prevent similar issues in the future.

Prosecutors report that the George Mason University Foundation has yet to receive any reimbursement for the lost funds.

Currently, George Mason University, based in Fairfax, Virginia, is a member of the Atlantic 10 conference and holds a record of 7 wins and 3 losses this season.