Hey, sports fans! Brace yourselves for a wild story that shows even big NBA stars aren’t safe from tricky scams. A man has been sentenced to over 12 years in prison for conning former NBA giant Dwight Howard out of a whopping $7 million!
The scam involved a Georgia businessman named Calvin Darden Jr. He tricked Dwight Howard into thinking he was buying a part of the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream basketball team. Darden even made up stories, claiming famous people like Tyler Perry and Naomi Osaka were involved in the deal! Dwight only found out it was all fake when ESPN reported that the team had been sold to someone else entirely.
But Dwight wasn’t the only victim! Darden Jr. also scammed another former NBA player, Chandler Parsons, out of $1 million with a different fake investment.
What did the scammer do with all that money? Well, he went on a huge spending spree, buying things like a $3.7 million mansion, fancy cars (like a Lamborghini and a Rolls-Royce!), expensive artwork, and luxury watches. Talk about living large on stolen money!
Luckily, justice has been served. Darden Jr. was found guilty and got a long prison sentence. It’s a tough lesson, but a reminder for everyone to be careful with their investments, no matter how famous you are!
Sam, a dedicated blogger, has immersed himself in the world of content creation for the past five years. His journey reflects a profound passion for storytelling and insightful commentary. Beyond the digital realm, Sam is a devoted NBA enthusiast, seamlessly blending his love for sports with his writing pursuits.