In July 2026, Norbert A. Sygdziak, a 44‑year‑old resident of Saratoga County, was taken into custody on accusations that he had built a phantom travel basketball team known as the Saratoga Raptors.
The program claimed to field teams for 12‑and‑under and 14‑and‑under age groups and attracted roughly 40 families in Saratoga Springs, promising uniforms, tournament entry and travel.
Parents were soon confronted with canceled tournaments and a lack of promised services, leading to growing suspicion.
Joe Tocci, whose 12‑year‑old son had been enrolled in the Raptors, discovered that the team had not secured any tournaments and that the money he had handed over vanished. He and his ex‑wife together lost about $840.
The Scheme Unfolds
Sygdziak faced a slate of charges that included fourth‑degree grand larceny, first‑degree scheme to defraud, second‑degree scheme to defraud and five counts of petit larceny. Prosecutors allege he engaged in a systematic course of conduct that netted more than $1,000 from multiple victims.
According to the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office, the alleged fraud was not isolated to a single transaction but part of an ongoing pattern of deception that left roughly 80 percent of affected families seeking legal recourse.
Community Response and Aftermath
A group of parents responded by forming an alternative squad called the Springs City Hoopers, which quickly proved its mettle by capturing a youth tournament in Syracuse, offering a stark contrast to the Raptors’ empty promises.
The episode has left a lingering impact on the local basketball community, serving as a cautionary tale about the importance of due diligence when enrolling children in extracurricular programs. It also underscores the resilience of families who, after being defrauded, were able to organize a legitimate alternative that succeeded on the court.