by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
SDNY COURTHOUSE, Jan 30 – Calvin Darden Jr. was on trial for defrauding NBA player Dwight Howard to convince him he was buying the WNBA team the Atlanta Dream. Inner City Press is covering the trial. September 30 thread
Then, the conviction of CALVIN DARDEN, JR. for his role in defrauding former National Basketball Association players Dwight Howard and Chandler Parsons out of $8 million. The defendant was found guilty following an 11-day jury trial before U.S. District Judge Vernon S. Broderick.
On December 23, Judge Broderick revoked his bail and jailed him: "Defendant Calvin Darden, Jr., present, defendant's bail has been revoked. Defendant is remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal's Service."
On March 26, sentencing did not occur due to "an incident at the MDC." On March 31, defense counsel wrote in asking for sentencing on April 2 at 2:30 pm.
In advance of that, Judge Broderick rightly docketed: "As Defendant has recently suffered an injury, I find that it is necessary to conduct a direct colloquy with Darden Jr. to confirm the knowing and voluntary nature of his waiver request. That colloquy will occur at the beginning of the time reserved for sentencing on April 2, 2025 at 2:30 pm, and if I am satisfied that Darden Jr. has made a knowing and voluntary waiver, he will be excused for the remainder of the proceeding."
Inner City Press went - but it was locked. In the docket:
Then saw: "Sentencing is hereby ADJOURNED to April 3, 2025 at 1:00 pm."
Inner City Press went. Darden was present, then at his request taken out by Marshals. Judge Broderick after argument sentenced him to 151 months, with Georgia requested.
On July 17 co-defendant Darryl Cohen wrote in waiving personal attendance in favor of telephone presence at a July 18 hearing.
On July 18 Judge Broderick set Cohen's trial date: "Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge Vernon S. Broderick: . Defendant Darryl Cohen present remotely. The trial in this matter scheduled for September 23, 2025 is hereby adjourned to January 2026."
On January 23 Judge Broderick issued his initial description, of Cohen being charged with defrauding three players: Jrue Holiday, Chandler Parsons, and Courtney Lee.
On January 30, it was said Jrue Holiday would testify, as he was in town with the Trailblazers to play the Knicks. But to the end of the day it was an SDNY paralegal, reading into the record Cohen's texts about Nyjer Morgan. Then, with an anti-ICE protest in Foley Square, jurors were led out onto Pearl Street and told to turn right.
More on X for Subscribers here and Substack here
The case is USA v. Cohen, et al., 1:23-cr-134 (Broderick)
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