A person in Georgia was sentenced to 12 years in jail for scamming thousands and thousands of {dollars} from a possible basketball Corridor of Famer.
Three-time Defensive Participant of the 12 months Dwight Howard testified in court docket that he gave Calvin Darden Jr. $7 million, considering it was an funding towards the acquisition of the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream.
Howard, an eight-time All-Star, then realized Darden was not an proprietor of the crew when ESPN reported the crew had been bought to an investor group.
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Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic argues a name throughout a preseason recreation in opposition to the Miami Warmth at Amway Heart Dec. 21, 2011, in Orlando, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Getty Photos)
Prosecutors mentioned Darden and a sports activities agent additionally conned ex-NBA participant Chandler Parsons into sending $1 million that was supposed to assist within the growth of James Wiseman, who was drafted by the Golden State Warriors because the second general choose within the 2020 NBA Draft.
However the two did not know Wiseman, and the participant by no means agreed to be represented by the agent as they claimed to Parsons. Wiseman final performed for the Indiana Pacers earlier than being traded to the Toronto Raptors, who waived him earlier this 12 months.
A Manhattan federal court docket decide on Thursday ordered Darden to forfeit $8 million and a number of other luxurious objects he acquired together with his ill-gotten positive aspects, together with a $3.7 million Atlanta mansion, $600,000 in paintings by Jean-Michel Basquiat, a Lamborghini and a Rolls-Royce.
Dwight Howard of the Los Angeles Lakers warms up forward of a recreation in opposition to the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Enviornment March 18, 2022, in Toronto. (Cole Burston/Getty Photos)
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Darden was convicted by a jury in October of wire fraud, financial institution fraud and cash laundering expenses.
He was beforehand sentenced to a 12 months in federal jail in New York for impersonating his father, Cal Darden, a former government at Atlanta-based United Parcel Service, in a failed bid to purchase Maxim journal.
Dwight Howard of the Los Angeles Lakers throughout a recreation in opposition to the Orlando Magic Jan. 21, 2022, at Amway Heart in Orlando, Fla. (Gary Bassing/NBAE through Getty Photos)
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The Atlanta Dream have been as soon as co-owned by former Republican U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler, however she was pressured to promote after clashing with gamers over her opposition to the league’s racial justice initiatives.
Howard was the primary choose of the 2004 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
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