Dwight Howard Scammed in Fake WNBA Deal \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ A Georgia businessman who defrauded former NBA stars Dwight Howard and Chandler Parsons was sentenced to over 12 years in prison. Calvin Darden Jr. stole millions through fake investment schemes, including a bogus plan to buy the Atlanta Dream. He must also forfeit $8 million and luxury assets.
NBA Fraud Scheme Sentencing Quick Looks
- Calvin Darden Jr. sentenced to over 12 years in federal prison
- Convicted of defrauding Dwight Howard out of $7 million
- Falsely promised Howard ownership in the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream
- Also scammed Chandler Parsons in fake James Wiseman investment
- Ordered to forfeit $8 million, mansion, luxury cars, and artwork
- Darden skipped sentencing, citing a concussion sustained in custody
- Previously served prison time for impersonating his UPS executive father
- Dwight Howard and Chandler Parsons testified about the schemes
- Atlanta Dream later sold to Renee Montgomery’s investor group
- Wiseman was never involved with Darden or the supposed agent
Deep Look
In a dramatic conclusion to one of the most audacious sports-related fraud cases in recent memory, Calvin Darden Jr., a Georgia businessman, was sentenced to more than 12 years in federal prison for orchestrating a pair of elaborate scams that defrauded former NBA stars Dwight Howard and Chandler Parsons out of millions of dollars. The sentencing, delivered by a federal judge in Manhattan on Thursday, marked the end of a years-long saga that blended sports fame, deceit, and high-dollar fraud.
Darden, 50, was convicted in October 2023 by a Manhattan jury on multiple felony counts, including wire fraud, bank fraud, and money laundering. The jury found that he had manipulated both Howard and Parsons—two high-profile professional athletes—into investing large sums of money into completely fictitious ventures. His schemes relied not just on fake documents and misleading claims, but on the trust he cultivated with his victims, leveraging their ambitions in business and sports to line his own pockets.
The centerpiece of Darden’s fraudulent operation was a fake investment opportunity pitched to Dwight Howard, an eight-time NBA All-Star and 2020 NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers. According to court testimony, Darden convinced Howard to invest $7 million into what he claimed was an ownership bid to purchase the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream. Darden painted the venture as a legitimate and strategic move that would place Howard as a key stakeholder in a rising professional sports franchise.
But there was no deal. There were no legal papers. And Howard, despite his substantial investment, had no stake in the team. He only discovered this after reading a 2021 ESPN article announcing the Dream’s sale to an investor group led by former WNBA player Renee Montgomery. That revelation shattered Howard’s belief that he had entered team ownership and exposed the true nature of Darden’s deceit.
Howard, who testified during the trial, recounted how Darden’s pitch seemed genuine and aligned with his interest in growing his business footprint after years in the NBA. A former No. 1 draft pick, Howard has played for seven NBA franchises and built a brand as both a dominant defensive presence and a charismatic figure. But even a seasoned veteran like him was not immune to manipulation.
In a second fraudulent scheme, Darden teamed up with an unlicensed sports agent to defraud Chandler Parsons, a former NBA forward known for his sharpshooting and nine-year professional career. The scam centered around then-NBA prospect James Wiseman, who was projected to be a top pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. Darden claimed that Wiseman had agreed to work with them, and he convinced Parsons to invest $1 million to help fund Wiseman’s training and development.
The problem? Darden and the agent had no connection to Wiseman at all. The player, who was later drafted No. 2 overall by the Golden State Warriors, had never authorized such a deal, never met Darden, and was unaware of any financial plan involving his name. Wiseman has since played for the Warriors and Pacers before being waived by the Toronto Raptors in early 2025.
Prosecutors described both scams as meticulously planned and executed, using fake emails, contracts, and false representations to build credibility. Darden, they said, weaponized the trust that successful athletes often place in advisors, especially as they look to transition from playing careers into business ventures.
Thursday’s sentencing included an order for Darden to forfeit $8 million and several luxury assets he had purchased with the stolen money. Among the items seized were a $3.7 million mansion in Atlanta, a Lamborghini, a Rolls-Royce, and $600,000 worth of artwork by famed artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. The extravagant spending starkly contrasted the harm done to his victims, both financially and emotionally.
Adding another layer of drama, Darden did not appear in court for his sentencing. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, he waived his right to be present, citing a concussion sustained while in federal custody the previous week. His attorneys declined to comment on his absence or the sentencing outcome.
This is not Darden’s first encounter with federal authorities. In a prior case, he served a year in prison for impersonating his father, Cal Darden—a respected former executive at United Parcel Service (UPS)—in an attempt to acquire Maxim magazine. That earlier conviction, combined with the high-profile nature of his more recent crimes, painted a picture of a man with a history of exploiting identity, wealth, and power to achieve his aims.
For the athletes involved, the consequences extended beyond financial losses. Their trust was violated, their names dragged into fraudulent schemes, and their reputations potentially put at risk. Yet, both Howard and Parsons testified openly, helping ensure Darden was held accountable.
Chandler Parsons, who played for teams including the Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks, and Atlanta Hawks, retired from professional basketball after a career cut short by injuries. Like many former athletes, Parsons was seeking investment opportunities to build his post-NBA life—an aspiration Darden exploited.
The Atlanta Dream franchise, central to Darden’s fraudulent pitch to Howard, has undergone significant change in recent years. Formerly co-owned by Republican U.S. Senator Kelly Loeffler, the team drew national headlines in 2020 and 2021 when players publicly opposed Loeffler’s criticism of racial justice initiatives. The backlash led to her sale of the team, with Renee Montgomery—a former Dream player—becoming part of the historic new ownership group, making her the first WNBA player to own a team.
Darden’s sentencing closes a chapter on one of the more stunning cases of sports-related financial fraud. It also serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities professional athletes face once the games are over and the focus shifts to business. As sports figures increasingly move into entrepreneurship, the need for due diligence, trustworthy counsel, and regulatory oversight becomes ever more critical.
Dwight Howard Scammed Dwight Howard Scammed
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