A businessman from Georgia has been found guilty of swindling two former NBA stars out of a combined $8 million in 2021. The verdict was handed down by a federal jury in Manhattan on Friday, with the defendant, Calvin Darden Jr., facing five counts including fraud, bank fraud, money laundering, and two conspiracy charges.
Darden’s schemes involved former NBA agent Charles Briscoe, who pleaded guilty to his role in the case last year. Prosecutors presented evidence that one of the NBA players, a former All-Star, sent Darden a $7 million payment believing it was part of an effort to purchase a WNBA team. The other player was tricked into investing in the development of a young basketball player’s career.
The government presented evidence that Darden used $6.1 million of the stolen funds to finance a lavish lifestyle, including purchasing two luxury cars, a piano, and expensive watches. He also used some of the money to help buy a $3.7 million home in Atlanta. One of the NBA players testified against Darden during the two-week trial.
Darden’s sentencing is expected to be severe, with government lawyers pushing for 11 to 14 years behind bars. This is not Darden’s first run-in with the law; he was convicted of a multimillion-dollar fraud scheme in 2016.
The case is part of a larger investigation by the Southern District of New York into fraudulent schemes targeting professional athletes. Another trial is set to take place next year, involving a former financial adviser accused of defrauding several high-profile athletes, including a star player from the Boston Celtics.
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