BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- For the past few years, Victor McGee has claimed he is starting a semi-professional basketball league in Bakersfield.

McGee's fund-raising efforts include soliciting businesses and hiring mostly young people to sell tickets to events. The events, such as dances, are then never held.

Several of those workers recently told Eyewitness News they were never paid.

"He just keeps giving excuses, talking about (how) he doesn't have it all," said Jasmine Williams, who said she believes she is owed around $568.

McGee even drew up contracts that state workers would be paid $12 an hour, after sixty days $20 an hour and after seven months $55 per hour.

"If I don't get my money, there's going to be trouble," said another worker, Tannieka Tejuk.

On his Web site, McGee claims he is a minister who has access to $3.5 billion. He mixes in quotes of scripture with his claim that he is raising money to start a basketball league.

McGee's literature claims he is associated with The House of Prayer church at 4350 Wible Road. That address turns out to be an indoor skate park.

The Web site also has 20 pages of alleged sponsors. The list consists of business cards posted on the site. Eyewitness News called several of the businesses listed and all denied being sponsors.

"Can't say that I actually heard of him ... I wasn't aware that I was supporting somebody that I didn't even know," said Tom Burch, owner of Henley's Photo.

Court records show McGee served 57 days in jail in 2005 after pleading no contest to one count of petty theft. Other charges, including fraudulent charity solicitation and making obscene or threatening phone calls, were dropped.

McGee runs his operation out of his motel room at Howard Johnson's on White Lane. That's where Eyewitness News tried to contact McGee as several workers were demanding payment.

McGee immediately took off running when he saw an Eyewitness News crew. He refused to come out and answer questions.

Connie Alarcon of the Better Business Bureau said any person who may have fallen victim should file a complaint with her office.

The Better Business Bureau can be reached at (661) 322-2074.

Police are also investigating McGee's practices, and victims were asked to call the Kern County District Attorney's fraud unit.