Man gets 12 years in prison for using investment scam to defraud ex-NBA star Dwight Howard out of $7 million

2 months ago 11

Rebecca Holland

Wed, Apr 16, 2025, 3:44 AM 5 min read

Atlanta businessman Calvin Darden Jr., a vocation fraudster with erstwhile convictions, is facing 12 years successful situation for his latest scam, convincing erstwhile NBA subordinate Dwight Howard to portion with $7 cardinal for a fake bid to acquisition WNBA squad the Atlanta Dream.

Darden Jr. worked with Howard’s cause Charles Briscoe to person the baller that the scam was real. Howard was duped into believing different large stars similar histrion Issa Rae, tennis prima Naomi Osaka and filmmaker Tyler Perry were besides investing successful the team.

However, court records amusement that galore of these expected investors had ne'er heard of Darden Jr., overmuch little had immoderate concern dealings with him.

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For his involvement, Charles Briscoe is facing six months of location arrest, a three-year supervisory play and a punishment of $1.5 million.

Darden Jr. besides duped erstwhile Houston Rockets subordinate Chandler Parsons into “loaning” $1 cardinal to NBA imaginable James Wiseman. Wiseman was not progressive successful the deal, and Darden Jr. reportedly spent the wealth connected luxury goods for himself.

While these ample sums of wealth whitethorn person you that scams of this benignant lone hap to the affluent and famous, the world is that fraudsters tin people anyone. You person to enactment vigilant and informed to guarantee you don’t go a victim.

Here’s however to assistance debar falling for concern scams, however to vet imaginable concern partners and deals — and however to cognize erstwhile to locomotion away.

Warren Buffett has offered immoderate sage proposal from his agelong career.

“We look for 3 things erstwhile we prosecute people. We look for intelligence. We look for initiative, oregon energy. And we look for integrity,” helium says “And if they don't person the latter, the archetypal 2 volition termination you.”

Integrity is critical, arsenic placing your spot successful the incorrect idiosyncratic tin beryllium financially fatal. Taking the lawsuit of Charles Briscoe: the cause was not lone trying to outsmart Howard, but besides duped different NBA players into buying much than $5 cardinal successful overpriced beingness security policies.

When you take a caller fiscal advisor, a caller concern spouse oregon adjacent a work supplier similar a owe oregon security broker, beryllium definite to bash your homework connected them. Check for immoderate required certifications, and rank successful nonrecreational and regulatory organizations. Ask for references, and besides look for testimonials from radical successful your ain web whom you trust.