One Georgia businessman, Calvin Darden Jr., don dey in hot water after court convict am of cheating two former NBA stars, Dwight Howard and Chandler Parsons, out of $8 million. Dis verdict come out on Friday after trial for Manhattan federal court.
Darden Jr. no be new to fraud; eight years ago, im dey prison for one year for impersonating im successful father to buy Maxim magazine. But dis time, im no accept government offer to plead guilty and decide to go to trial.
Dwight Howard, wey be eight-time All Star and three-time defensive player of the year, testify say Darden fool am into giving am $7 million by telling am say e be investment for women’s basketball franchise. Howard say im no get anything in return for im money, just “a slap in the face.”
Prosecutors also say Darden team up with sports agent to cheat Chandler Parsons out of $1 million, money wey supposed to help develop James Wiseman, who currently dey play for NBA.
After conviction, Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Meade ask court to take Darden into custody immediately, saying im no learn im lesson from previous case. Meade say Darden dey face between 11 to 14 years in prison when im be sentenced early next year.
Government plan to seize all Darden’s assets, including im Atlanta home, luxury cars, art, and jewelry wey im buy with money from fraud. But Judge Vernon S. Broderick allow Darden to remain on bail after im lawyer insist say im no longer in danger of committing more frauds and im family need am, especially im ailing father.
