Introduction: A businessman

NEW YORK (AP)

A Georgia businessman was found guilty
Friday of defrauding former NBA star
Dwight Howard out of millions of
dollars to buy the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream.

A jury handed down a verdict against
Calvin Darden Jr. on
Friday afternoon, after a trial in
New York found Darden guilty of
murdering former NBA
forward Chandler Parsons.

Howard, one of the NBA’s most
dominant centers at the height of
his 18-year career, testified during his
trial that Darden defrauded him of $7 million and convinced

him that buying the Dream was an investment. In fact, a
group of three investors, including former

player Rene Montgomery,

bought the team in 2021.

When his lawyer asked him if
he was getting anything in return for his $7
million, Howard said he was “slapped in the face.”

Darden, working with a sports agent, will send
Parsons, who played nine years in the NBA, $1
million to help develop James
Wiseman, who is currently playing in the NBA.

Darden’s conviction came eight years

Darden’s conviction came eight years after
he was sentenced to a year in prison for
impersonating his successful father during a
failed attempt to buy Maxim magazine. In

that case, Darden won leniency by cooperating
with prosecutors against
the other defendants in the case.

Prosecutors said they planned to
seize all of Darden’s assets, including
his Atlanta home, luxury cars, art and jewelry.

Darden’s attorney argued that his
client had no intention of committing
further fraud and was needed by his family.

Mr. Darden’s father, Cal Darden, is a
former vice president of operations for

Atlanta-based United Parcel Service and has served on the boards of several large companies. Mr. Darden’s lawyer, Xavier Donaldson, argued that his client had never impersonated the father or had any contact with the players, telling jurors that there was “no speculation, conjecture or improper inference” against him for using “” could condemn.