A Georgia businessman who defrauded former NBA players Dwight Howard and Chandler Parsons has been sentenced to over 12 years in federal prison. Calvin Darden Jr. was convicted of scamming Howard out of $7 million through a fake investment scheme aimed at purchasing the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream. He also tricked Parsons into transferring $1 million under the pretense of helping develop NBA prospect James Wiseman.
A Manhattan federal judge ordered Darden to forfeit $8 million and several luxury items, including a $3.7 million mansion in Atlanta, $600,000 in artwork, and high-end cars like a Lamborghini and a Rolls-Royce. Lawyers for Darden did not comment on the case as he was absent during the sentencing, citing a concussion he suffered while in custody.
Howard revealed during the trial that he was misled into believing he was part of the Atlanta Dream’s ownership until he learned through an ESPN report in 2021 that the team had been sold to a new group, including former Dream player Renee Montgomery. Parsons was also deceived by Darden and a sports agent, who claimed to represent Wiseman, but he was not actually associated with them.
Darden’s trial included charges of wire fraud, bank fraud, and money laundering. This isn’t his first offense; he was previously sentenced to a year in prison for impersonating his father in a failed bid to buy Maxim magazine.
The schemes exploited trust in a high-profile world where money is often involved in major investments. In recent years, financial fraud cases have surged, often targeting celebrities and athletes who might not have the financial literacy to recognize scams. According to a 2021 report by the Federal Trade Commission, losses from investment scams reached $1.4 billion, showcasing that even well-known figures are not immune to exploitation.
This case raises awareness about the importance of due diligence in financial matters and the risks involved when trusting others with large sums of money, especially in the sports and entertainment industries.
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