Georgia man guilty of defrauding former NBA players Dwight Howard and Chandler Parsons of $8 million

Georgian businessman Calvin Darden Jr. was convicted on Friday by a federal jury in Manhattan on five counts of defrauding former NBA players Dwight Howard and Chandler Parsons of a combined $8 million in 2021.

Prosecutors said they will push for a prison sentence of 11 to 14 years for Calvin Darden Jr.

Darden was found guilty of wire fraud, bank fraud, money laundering and two different conspiracy charges. The case was decided in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Howard testified at Darden’s trial. In fact, after a two-week trial, the jury took five hours to reach a verdict.

Prosecutors have said they will push for a prison sentence of 11 to 14 years for Darden, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.

Additionally, Darden was involved in multiple schemes with former NBA agent Charles Briscoe. Naturally, Briscoe pleaded guilty last year to his role in the case.

Briscoe was sentenced to three months of house arrest and three years of supervision for one count of wire fraud in November 2023.

Dwight Howard sent Darden a $7 million payment as part of an effort to purchase the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream

Prosecutors have presented evidence that Howard sent Darden a $7 million payment for what the former All-Star said was to purchase the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream.

The jury was presented with evidence that Darden used $6.1 million of Howard’s $7 million on two cars, including a Lamborghini. Darden also spent $110,000 on a piano and $90,000 on watches.

The Georgia businessman spent another $500,000 on home upgrades, in addition to hundreds of thousands of dollars on art. He also bought a $3.7 million home in Atlanta.

Additionally, Chandler Parsons was tricked into making a fraudulent investment in developing the career of former No. 2 draft pick James Wiseman. Parsons did not testify at the trial.

Darden’s sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 27 until the judge rules that he will remain free on bail

According to Law360’s Pete Brush, Darden’s sentencing is scheduled for January 27. Until then, the judge ruled that he will remain free on bail “with strict restrictions on internet use.”

Prosecutors plan to seize assets including his home in Atlanta, according to Larry Neumeister of The Associated Press. Darden was also convicted of a multi-million dollar fraud in 2016.

In 2025, a former Morgan Stanley financial advisor, Darryl Cohen, will go on trial as part of a scheme the government claims defrauded Boston Celtics star Jrue Holiday, among others.