Friday, October 11, 2024

Darden Convicted of Conning NBA Dwight Howard on Buying WNBA Dream as Creditor


by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

SDNY COURTHOUSE, Oct 7 – Calvin Darden Jr. is 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:

AUSA: Did you ever meet directly with Calvin Darden? 

Witness Schmidt: No, but those are my text messages about sales agreements under 10 (b) 5 (1), and Calvin Darden's Fidelity statement

AUSA: What is this? 

Schmidt: A Wells Fargo statement labeled Calvin Darden.

AUSA: Did Dwight Howard pursue the investment?

Schmidt: Yes, this is the wire transfer of my client Dwight David Howard II for the marketing company related to the WNBA's Atlanta Dream

 AUSA: Was Mr. Howard's line of credit increased to $10 million? 

Schmidt: Yes. Here he wired to Legacy AC LLC to try to close on the purchase of the Atlanta Dream. But we learned Dwight could not own the Dream while an active NBA player - so he was to be a creditor.

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.

The case is USA v. Cohen, et al., 1:23-cr-134 (Broderick)

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