by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
SDNY COURTHOUSE, April 3 – 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23, Judge Broderick revoked his bail and jailed him: "Defendant Calvin Darden, Jr., present, defendant's bail has been revoked.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 January 21, 2025 the US Attorney's Office wrote in asking for the top of the guidelines - 168 months - on January 27.
But it was delayed, as his family wanted to come: " The sentencing scheduled for January 27, 2025 is hereby adjourned. The parties should meet and confer concerning days in March 2025 when they are available for sentencing, and inform the Court in a joint letter on or before January 28, 2025. No further adjournments will be granted."
And on January 31 it was re-set: "The sentencing in this matter is scheduled for March 26, 2025.
On March 19 the US Attorney's Office submitted a 10 page letter advocating for a upward departure, ranging from "real estate transactions as violations of Federal law" to violations of pre-trial release conditions.
On March 25 Judge Broderick denied Darden's motion for acquittal or a new trial, which had cited an email to the prosecutors from one of their witnesses, Jennifer Baltimore, that "a friend is interested in purchasing the Darden residence." Judge Broderick noted this was just a friend, and concluded "I have no concern 'an innocent person may have been convicted.'"
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.
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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