NEW YORK (AP) — A Georgia businessman was convicted Friday of scamming former NBA star Dwight Howard out of millions of dollars in a bogus scheme to buy the WNBA's Atlanta Dream. The jury returned its verdict against Calvin Darden Jr. on Friday afternoon after a trial in New York City.
Darden was also convicted of cheating former NBA forward Chandler Parsons in a separate ruse. Howard — one of the NBA’s most dominant centers during the prime of his 18-year professional career — testified during the trial that Darden fooled him into giving him $7 million by convincing him that it was an investment toward the purchase of the Dream. In reality, a three-member investor group that included former player Renee Montgomery bought the team in 2021.
When a prosecutor asked him if he got anything in return for his $7 million, Howard testified that he got “a slap in the face.” Prosecutors said Darden also teamed up with a sports agent to fool Parsons, who had a 9-year NBA career, into sending $1 million that was supposed to aid the development of James Wiseman, who currently plays in the NBA. Darden's conviction came eight years after he was sentenced to a year in prison for impersonating his successful father in a failed bid to buy Maxim magazine.
In that case, Darden got leniency by cooperating with prosecutors against others charged in the case. This time, though, Darden turned down two offers by the government to plead guilty and went to trial. Prosecutors believe he will.