FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. – Maurice Eugene Smith, a 44-year-old travel agent and owner of Eugene Toriko LLC, was arrested on wire fraud charges after allegedly scamming George Mason University’s (GMU) men’s basketball team out of over $100,000 for a Bahamas trip that never took place. Smith is accused of taking payments for travel services, including lodging, transportation, and activities for the trip, but failing to make any of the necessary reservations.
The investigation began after GMU initiated plans for a five-day trip to Nassau, Bahamas, in August 2024. Smith initially provided a cost estimate of $149,542.40 in September 2023 for a group of 30 people. As the months progressed, he sent revised invoices, ultimately lowering the total cost to $159,756. The university and a third-party travel company, referred to as “Company A,” signed a contract in April 2024, and GMUF wired a deposit of $55,914.60.
However, authorities say Smith never followed through with the necessary travel arrangements. Despite continued communication with Company A, he never paid for the airline tickets or hotel rooms. Smith also allegedly misled Company A, prompting them to issue invoices on his behalf, resulting in multiple transactions between GMUF and Company A.
Smith now faces wire fraud charges for his role in the fraudulent scheme.