PGA Tour title sponsor Oneflight facing 3 lawsuits of running a Ponzi-like scheme

PGA Tour title sponsor Oneflight facing 3 lawsuits of running a Ponzi-like scheme.

Key points

• 1, the tournament awarded $225, 000 in donations to eight local charities at the Dunes Golf and Beach Club.
• A third lawsuit notes Oneflight is holding $800, 000 in cash payments and promotional credits for future apply.
• All three lawsuits were filed in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado.
• Oneflight, based in Denver, is accused of withholding $150 million from its customers after its decision to pause operations, according to three separate lawsuits.
• Visit Myrtle Beach, the other co-title sponsor of the PGA Tour stop, intends to continue its involvement with the event next year.

Oneflight International, a private jet charter firm and the sponsor of the PGA Tour's Oneflight Myrtle Beach Classic for the last two seasons, is facing a number of lawsuits, according to a reporting by multiple outlets, including TV station WBTW Channel 13.

Meanwhile, the firm is accused of running a Ponzi-like scheme. Last week, Oneflight changed its website homepage to display a message to its customers regarding pausing its flights.

We are writing to inform you of an significant temporary change to ONEflight International flight services.

While we conduct a comprehensive evaluation of our current operations and status, effective immediately, ONEflight is pausing all flight activity for the next 30 days, or until further notice. We sincerely appreciate your patience and understanding.

Oneflight, based in Denver, is accused of withholding $150 million from its customers after its decision to pause operations, according to three separate lawsuits. Each of the three allege contract breaches and fraudulent inducements. The lawsuits are against the firm and its founder and CEO, Ferren Rajput, with each of them alleging fraud and breaches of contract.

In practice, the report by WBTW notes one of the lawsuits was filed by Five-Star Audiovisual Inc. In Illinois. Five-Star notes Oneflight abruptly suspended its services on or around Sept. 16 without any prior notice or explanation. Five-Star notes Oneflight has $223, 000 of its capital that was supposed to go towards future flights.

Notably, a separate lawsuit filed by Jeremy Ricks. This person lives in California, alleges that Oneflight "used customer funds to service obligations to earlier customers and fund marketing and sponsorship campaigns for various groups, including the PGA Tour and McLaren F1 team."

Meanwhile, a third lawsuit notes Oneflight is holding $800, 000 in cash payments and promotional credits for future apply.

All three lawsuits were filed in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado. The PGA Tour declined to comment.

Meanwhile, Visit Myrtle Beach, the other co-title sponsor of the PGA Tour stop, intends to continue its involvement with the event next year. It is scheduled for May 13-16.

"Visit Myrtle Beach is excited to continue its sponsorship of the tournament in 2027 and looks forward to working with the PGA Tour, Dunes Golf and Beach Club, SportFive and the local community to build upon the success the event brings to our region, " Visit Myrtle Beach President Stuart Butler remarked in an official note.

On Thursday, Oct. 1, the tournament awarded $225, 000 in donations to eight local charities at the Dunes Golf and Beach Club. During a check presentation ceremony, it was confirmed that the three-year donation total has reached $675, 000. The local chamber documented that the 2026 tournament had an economic impact of close to $20 million.

For now, PGA Tour title sponsor Oneflight facing 3 lawsuits of running a Ponzi remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.