The $7 Million WNBA Scam: 5 Shocking Facts About Convicted Fraudster Calvin Darden Jr.
The story of Calvin Darden Jr. is a cautionary tale of a “flashy failson fraud” who leveraged his family’s prestigious name to perpetrate multi-million dollar scams against professional athletes and high-net-worth individuals. As of late 2024 and early 2025, Darden Jr. has dominated financial crime headlines after being convicted and sentenced for his most audacious scheme yet: defrauding former NBA All-Star Dwight Howard out of millions with a fake WNBA team investment. This latest legal action marks the culmination of a decades-long career defined by deception, name-dropping, and elaborate financial cons. The details of his conviction, which include charges of wire fraud, bank fraud, and money laundering, provide a fresh and unique look into the life of a notorious Atlanta businessman.
The recent sentencing of Darden Jr. to over 12 years in federal prison in early 2025 serves as a final chapter—for now—in a saga of criminal activity that spans multiple states and several high-profile victims. His repeated offenses, despite previous convictions and prison time, highlight a pattern of sophisticated financial manipulation against trusting investors. This article dives deep into the life, crimes, and ultimate downfall of the man who became infamous for impersonating his own father and defrauding some of the biggest names in professional sports.
Calvin Darden Jr. Full Biographical Profile
Calvin Darden Jr. is an American businessman and financial figure primarily known for his extensive history of white-collar crime and fraud convictions. His life is characterized by a stark contrast between his privileged upbringing and his criminal endeavors.
- Full Name: Calvin Darden Jr.
- Known For: Convicted fraudster; orchestrating scams against professional athletes, including Dwight Howard, Shaquille O’Neal, and Latrell Spreewell.
- Father: Calvin Darden Sr., a highly successful former Senior Vice President of U.S. Operations for United Parcel Service (UPS).
- Residence: Atlanta, Georgia (at the time of his latest arrest).
- Education: Graduate of Howard University.
- Early Career: Worked as a broker in prestigious financial institutions in the early 2000s, including Salomon Brothers and Merrill Lynch.
- Legal Status (Current): Incarcerated, serving a 151-month (over 12 years) federal prison sentence as of early 2025 for wire fraud, bank fraud, and money laundering.
The Dwight Howard WNBA Team Scam and Conviction
The most recent and high-profile case against Calvin Darden Jr. centered on a multi-million dollar scheme involving former NBA star Dwight Howard. This elaborate con demonstrates the lengths Darden Jr. would go to exploit his victims' trust and financial ambitions.
The Fake WNBA Expansion Bid
The core of the scheme involved Darden Jr. convincing Dwight Howard to invest heavily in a purported bid to purchase and operate a WNBA expansion team.
- Darden Jr. falsely claimed to be raising capital for a WNBA team and presented Howard with forged documents to substantiate the investment opportunity.
- Howard ultimately wired Darden Jr. approximately $7 million for the investment, believing the funds were secure and legitimate.
- In reality, Darden Jr. never had a legitimate bid for a WNBA team, and the funds were immediately diverted for his personal use.
Fraudulent Spending and Sentencing
The subsequent spending spree by Darden Jr. with the stolen funds was key evidence in his trial, painting a clear picture of his intent.
Darden Jr. spent nearly $900,000 of the stolen money on luxury automobiles, including several high-end vehicles. He also used the funds to finance his extravagant lifestyle, which played a major role in his sentencing. The Manhattan jury convicted Darden Jr. of wire fraud, bank fraud, and money laundering in October 2024.
In early 2025, a federal judge sentenced Darden Jr. to 151 months—just over 12 years—in federal prison. This significant sentence reflects the severity of the financial crimes and his long history as a repeat offender. The court also ordered him to pay full restitution to his victims, though the recovery of the full $7 million remains uncertain.
A Career Fraudster: Darden Jr.'s History of High-Profile Scams
The conviction in the Dwight Howard case was not an isolated incident; it was the latest in a series of sophisticated fraud schemes that have defined Calvin Darden Jr.’s adult life. His reputation as a "career fraudster" is well-earned, with a history of targeting professional athletes and wealthy investors.
The Prior Conviction and Famous Victims
Darden Jr.'s first major conviction came in 2014 when he pled guilty to wire fraud charges for a separate fraudulent investment scheme. This previous stint in prison did little to deter his criminal activities.
His fraudulent schemes often involved name-dropping and forging documents to build credibility. Some of his earlier targets and schemes include:
- The Maxim Magazine Hoax: Darden Jr. was charged in a scheme involving the purported purchase of *Maxim* magazine, where he falsely represented himself as a buyer to bilk investors.
- The NBA Exhibition Game in Taiwan: He was also involved in a fraudulent scheme related to an alleged NBA exhibition game planned for Taiwan, which was used to solicit funds from unsuspecting investors.
- Former NBA Star Victims: In addition to Dwight Howard, Darden Jr. has a history of targeting other professional athletes, including basketball legends Shaquille O'Neal and Latrell Spreewell, demonstrating a pattern of exploiting the financial naivete of sports figures.
The "Flashy Failson" Narrative and Family Name
A significant element of Darden Jr.'s ability to execute these scams was his connection to his highly successful father, Calvin Darden Sr.
Calvin Darden Sr. is a respected figure in the business world, having served as the Senior Vice President of U.S. Operations for United Parcel Service (UPS) during a distinguished 33-year career. He also served on the board of directors for several major corporations.
Calvin Darden Jr. reportedly exploited his father’s reputation and name, even impersonating him at times, to gain access to financial circles and convince investors of his legitimacy. This use of a respected family name to mask criminal intent is a key factor in his notoriety, earning him the moniker of the "Flashy Failson Fraud" in true-crime media. The stark contrast between the father's legitimate success and the son's criminal downfall provides a compelling and tragic backdrop to his story.
Detail Author:
- Name : Darian Bernier
- Username : aylin13
- Email : ozulauf@yahoo.com
- Birthdate : 1971-05-14
- Address : 8926 Heidi Locks Apt. 950 Stiedemannhaven, KY 14038
- Phone : 321-521-1788
- Company : Zieme, Champlin and Walter
- Job : Preschool Teacher
- Bio : Sed fugit dolorem id pariatur atque nesciunt qui. Dolorem dolor quidem eum fugit voluptatem unde. Eos laudantium nulla molestias repellat iste exercitationem. Architecto ex rerum sequi laborum.
Socials
linkedin:
- url : https://linkedin.com/in/leonardo'kon
- username : leonardo'kon
- bio : Dolorem doloribus aliquid asperiores quia non.
- followers : 1021
- following : 208
twitter:
- url : https://twitter.com/o'konl
- username : o'konl
- bio : Consequatur qui animi odio aut fugit enim deserunt. Voluptatum sed autem rerum labore aliquam. Tempora eos deserunt quisquam facere non ut.
- followers : 3854
- following : 1670
facebook:
- url : https://facebook.com/leonard_dev
- username : leonard_dev
- bio : Maiores occaecati et quasi sapiente corporis ullam atque deserunt.
- followers : 2202
- following : 908
instagram:
- url : https://instagram.com/leonard_dev
- username : leonard_dev
- bio : Sit ipsum nesciunt quia. Aspernatur ut necessitatibus aut. Enim ut nemo doloribus tempora aut.
- followers : 3424
- following : 1352
