Southern District of New York | Atlanta businessman convicted of defrauding former NBA players Dwight Howard and Chandler Parsons

Damian Williams, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, today announced the sentencing of CALVIN DARDEN, JR. for his role in defrauding former National Basketball Association (“NBA”) players Dwight Howard and Chandler Parsons of $8 million. The defendant was found guilty after an 11-day jury trial before U.S. District Judge Vernon S. Broderick.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Calvin Darden Jr. abused the trust of former NBA players Dwight Howard and Chandler Parsons, using elaborate lies and deceit to line his own pockets with millions. This belief serves as a stark reminder that financial cheating will not be tolerated. This Office remains committed to prosecuting those who exploit others, and we will work tirelessly to ensure that justice is served.”

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial:

In the Fraud Against Howard, DARDEN, JR. defrauded Howard by sending him $7 million, ostensibly for the purpose of purchasing the Atlanta Dream (the “Dream”), a team in the Women’s National Basketball Association. DARDEN, JR. worked with Charles Briscoe, Howard’s agent, to commit the fraud. DARDEN, JR. sent a ‘Vision Plan’ to Howard regarding the alleged purchase of the Dream. The Vision Plan falsely claimed that a number of celebrities and companies – including Tyler Perry, Issa Rae, Naomi Osaka, Aflac and Starbucks – had agreed to be advisors to or sponsor the Dream after Howard purchased it. In reality, these individuals and companies had never agreed to be advisors or corporate sponsors of the Dream and many had never even heard of DARDEN, JR. or the plan to buy the Dream.

DARDEN, JR.’s father (“Relative-1”) is a prominent businessman. DARDEN, JR. repeatedly posed as Relative-1 in an attempt to make his fraud scheme more credible.

DARDEN, JR. instructed Howard to send the $7 million to a shell company he controlled to effect the purported purchase of the Dream. DARDEN, JR. then laundered the money through a number of different bank accounts he controlled. DARDEN, JR. did not spend any money on purchasing the Dream. Instead, he spent the money on a $3.7 million mansion, a Rolls-Royce, a Lamborghini, a Porsche, Basquiat paintings and other luxury goods for himself.

Howard only found out he didn’t own the Dream when ESPN reported that the Dream had actually been sold to someone else.

In the Fraud Against Parsons, DARDEN, JR. defrauded Parsons by sending him $1 million, allegedly with the intention of loaning the money to James Wiseman, a prospect in the 2020 NBA draft. DARDEN, JR. and Briscoe falsely claimed to know Wiseman, and forged a document stating that Wiseman had agreed to Briscoe being his agent to convince Parsons to send the money. In truth and fact, DARDEN, JR. and Briscoe did not know Wiseman and did not send any of the money to Wiseman. Instead, DARDEN, JR. spent his share of the fraud proceeds on watches, a Mercedes and other personal expenses.

DARDEN, JR. was previously convicted of fraud in New York State in 2005. He was also convicted of fraud in the Southern District of New York in 2015. In the 2015 case, DARDEN, JR. committed fraud related to an alleged purchase of Maxim magazine and an alleged NBA exhibition game in Taiwan. In that earlier fraud, DARDEN, JR. also posed as Relative-1 in an attempt to make his fraud scheme more credible.

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DARDEN, JR., 50, of Atlanta, Georgia, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years; one count of bank fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years; one count of bank fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years; one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years; and one count of money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years.

The statutory maximum penalty is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as the sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge. DARDEN, JR. is expected to be sentenced by Judge Broderick on January 27, 2024 at 11 a.m.

Mr. Williams praised the FBI’s excellent work.

The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Complex Fraud and Cybercrime Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Mead, Brandon C. Thompson and William C. Kinder are in charge of the prosecution.