Georgia businessman convicted of scamming Dwight Howard and Chandler Parsons out of millions in a bogus scheme to buy the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream. Calvin Darden Jr. was found guilty of cheating the NBA stars in a trial in New York City. Howard testified that he gave Darden $7 million for the Dream, which was actually purchased by another group. Parsons was also fooled into sending $1 million for a different investment. Darden had previously served a year in prison for impersonating his father in a failed bid to buy Maxim magazine.
Darden faces a potential sentence of 11 to 14 years in prison. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Meade sought to have Darden taken into custody immediately, but he was allowed to remain free on bail. Prosecutors plan to seize all of Darden’s assets, including his home and luxury possessions. Darden’s lawyer argued that his client will not commit additional fraud and is needed by his family.
The Atlanta Dream, formerly co-owned by Kelly Loeffler, was sold after she clashed with players over racial justice initiatives. During closing arguments, the prosecutor stated that the evidence against Darden was overwhelming and detailed how he spent millions of the $7 million from Howard on luxury items.
Darden’s lawyer claimed that Darden never impersonated his father with the athletes and accused prosecutors of trying to manipulate the jury. Howard, an eight-time NBA All-Star, and Parsons, a nine-year NBA veteran, were both victims of Darden’s fraudulent schemes. The case highlights the vulnerability of high-profile athletes to financial scams and the importance of due diligence in investment opportunities.
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