Calvin Darden, Jr. has been sentenced to 151 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Vernon S. Broderick for defrauding former NBA players Dwight Howard and Chandler Parsons of $8 million. This announcement was made by Matthew Podolsky, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York.
"Calvin Darden, Jr., stole millions of dollars from former NBA players and used the money to buy a mansion, a fleet of luxury cars, and expensive artwork. This conviction—his third—and sentence make clear that severe consequences await those who take advantage of others by fraud," stated Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky.
In the case involving Dwight Howard, Darden, Jr. fraudulently persuaded Howard to send him $7 million under the false pretense of purchasing the Atlanta Dream, a Women's National Basketball Association team. Darden collaborated with Howard's agent, Charles Briscoe, and presented Howard with a fictitious "Vision Plan." The plan falsely asserted that various celebrities and companies, including Tyler Perry, Issa Rae, Naomi Osaka, Aflac, and Starbucks, were involved as advisors or sponsors. None of them had agreed to such roles.
Darden, Jr. impersonated his father, a prominent businessman, to gain credibility for his scheme. Howard sent the money to a shell company controlled by Darden, Jr., who then laundered it through multiple bank accounts. Instead of purchasing the team, Darden, Jr. spent the money on luxury items, including a mansion and expensive cars.
Howard discovered the deception when he found through an ESPN report that the team had been sold to another party.
Chandler Parsons was defrauded by Darden, Jr. into sending $1 million under the guise of loaning it to James Wiseman, a 2020 NBA draft prospect. Darden and Briscoe claimed to have a connection with Wiseman, presenting a forged document. Parsons was deceived into transferring the money, which Darden used for personal luxuries.
Darden, Jr. has a history of fraud convictions in New York. In 2005, he was convicted in New York state, and in 2015, he was found guilty in the Southern District of New York for similar fraudulent schemes, including impersonation.
Beyond the prison sentence, Darden, Jr., 50, of Atlanta, Georgia, will face five years of supervised release. He must forfeit $8 million along with several high-value items, such as cars and art by Jean-Michel Basquiat, and an Atlanta mansion. He is also ordered to pay $8 million in restitution.
Matthew Podolsky commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation for their efforts in the case, which is being handled by the Office's Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Mead, Brandon C. Thompson, and William C. Kinder are leading the prosecution.
