Businessman scammed Dwight Howard out of millions in WNBA team fraud

In a significant fraud case, Calvin Darden Jr., a businessman from Georgia, was convicted for his role in deceiving former NBA star Dwight Howard and Chandler Parsons. Darden was found guilty of tricking Howard into investing $7 million into a fake scheme to purchase the WNBA's Atlanta Dream, claiming it was a legitimate investment opportunity. Howard later discovered he had been misled when media reports indicated the ownership of the team had changed to another group. In another separate fraudulent operation, Darden also took $1 million from Parsons under the pretense of assisting NBA prospect James Wiseman's development. Prosecutors highlighted that Wiseman had no association with Darden and was not represented by the agent involved in the ruse, further demonstrating the depth of Darden's deceitful tactics. In light of these charges, Darden faced additional penalties, including a forfeiture of $8 million and expensive luxury items obtained fraudulently, consisting of a mansion, artwork by Jean-Michel Basquiat, and high-end vehicles. Sentencing took place in Manhattan federal court, where Darden received a 12-year term in federal prison as a consequence of his actions. His previous history included a conviction for impersonation related to failed business ventures. This case has implications not only for the victims but also reflects larger issues of fraud within professional sports, highlighting the vulnerabilities experienced by athletes, particularly when they are approached with seemingly lucrative investment opportunities.