El Paso Man Sentenced for Defrauding Investors as Third-Party NBA Preseason Game Promoter

EL PASO, Texas - An El Paso man was sentenced in to 51 months in federal prison along with a money judgement of $3,148,094.48 for running an 11-year Ponzi scheme in which he represented to investors that he would use their funds to promote NBA preseason games, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas.

According to court documents, Timothy France Johnson, 63, spent more than a decade soliciting over $3 million from investors by falsely claiming he would use their money to promote NBA preseason games. In reality, Johnson fabricated contracts and financial statements and falsely guaranteed "zero-risk" returns. Johnson used the fraudulently obtained funds from the scheme to pay earlier investors and for personal expenses rather than for any legitimate game-related activity.

Johnson was charged in April 2024 with seven counts of wire fraud and three counts of engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity. He pleaded guilty in March 2026 to the seven wire fraud charges.

"Johnson carried out his Ponzi scheme for over a decade, all to cultivate an image of success and importance that was a complete façade," said U.S. Attorney Simmons. "He convinced numerous victims to entrust him with thousands, and sometimes hundreds of thousands, of their hard-earned dollars, simply to feed his own pride and ego. Johnson's scheme was complex, and he was successful in earning the trust of many investors. However, this case shows that no matter how long you criminally leech off of others and no matter how much you believe you'll get away with it, your time will come. Justice will be served."

"While the financial and emotional harm suffered by the victims of the Ponzi Scheme perpetrated by Timothy Johnson cannot be undone, the sentencing today represents the final step toward accountability and justice," said FBI El Paso Field Office Acting Special Agent in Charge Aida Reyes. "This federal case sends a clear message that those who exploit the trust of innocent individuals for personal financial gain will be investigated and held accountable under the law."

A separate restitution hearing is currently scheduled for Nov. 19.

The FBI investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shane Romero and Chris Skillern prosecuted the case.

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