Businessman convicted of defrauding NBA star Dwight Howard in $7 million WNBA investment scam

Former NBA player Dwight Howard’s interest in purchasing a stake in the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream has became a nightmare. A businessman was found guilty of defrauding an NBA star in a deal gone bad.

According to the Associated Press jury returned conviction against Calvin Darden Jr. released on October 4 after Howard admitted at a trial in New York that he gave Darden $7 million considering it was an investment in a WNBA team.

Darden could face 11 to 14 years in prison when sentenced next 12 months.

The prosecutor said the fraudster spent most of the $7 million, no less than $6.1 million received from the previous Los Angeles Lakers player. He bought two cars for $500,000; spent $110,000 on a piano; placed $765,000 as a down payment on a $3.7 million home; and purchased $90,000 value of luxury watches while spending one other $500,000 to upgrade his home. He also purchased a whole bunch of 1000’s of dollars value of art.

Prosecutors plan to seize all of Darden’s assets, including the home where he lives in Atlanta, in addition to the above-mentioned items.

The alleged investment offered by Darden got here as Dream’s then-owner, former Republican U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler of Atlanta, was selling the team. In 2021, the team was sold to a three-person investor group that included former player Renee Montgomery.

Darden has been convicted before after one other scheme he was involved in got him into trouble. Prosecutors revealed that Darden worked with a sports agent to defraud former NBA forward Chandler. Darden managed to influence Chandler to send $1 million. The ruse involved using the cash to assist develop current NBA player James Wiseman.

Howard realized his dream of owning knowledgeable basketball team when it was reported earlier this 12 months that Howard had announced that he had develop into part owner of the Taiwan Basketball League, in addition to one of its teams.