In a shocking twist of events, Charles Briscoe, once a prominent NBA agent, stood before U.S. District Judge Vernon S. Broderick on Wednesday, pleading guilty to a single count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. This jaw-dropping revelation comes less than eight months after Briscoe and his alleged partner, Calvin Darden Jr., were accused of orchestrating a devious scheme to defraud unsuspecting pro basketball players.
Charles Briscoe Fraud : A $8 Million Hoop of Deceit
Originally facing charges of aggravated identity theft, attempt and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and wire fraud, Briscoe’s guilty plea is linked to the staggering claim that he and Darden conned two anonymous players out of a whopping $8 million. The indictment alleged a web of deception, with the duo misappropriating a $1 million loan intended for an NBA draft prospect and swindling another player out of $7 million under the guise of investing in a professional women’s basketball team.
Forged Signatures and Co-Conspirators
According to the superseding information filed on Wednesday, in 2019, Briscoe manipulated an unnamed player by sending a document with a forged signature, convincing the player to send the $1 million loan. Shockingly, half of the ill-gotten gains were wired to a co-conspirator, exposing the intricate layers of this fraudulent operation.
Charles Briscoe Fraud :Cohen and Gilder in the Mix
The scandal extends beyond Briscoe and Darden, implicating former Morgan Stanley adviser Daryl Cohen and ex-attorney turned financial adviser Brian Gilder. The duo is accused of running an adjacent scheme to siphon funds from NBA players connected to Cohen. Astonishingly, one of the players scammed by Briscoe and Darden was also a victim in Cohen and Gilder’s alleged plot.
Dominoes Falling: Gilder’s Confession
In a separate twist last October, Gilder pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Prosecutors revealed that funds misappropriated by Gilder and Cohen were used to repay a different player Cohen worked with, while others funded Gilder’s mortgage. Darden now faces wired fraud charges, and Cohen confronts charges ranging from wire fraud to investment adviser fraud.
Charles Briscoe Fraud : Silence on the Horizon
Briscoe’s counsel refused to comment on this shocking turn of events, leaving the public in suspense. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York has yet to respond to inquiries, maintaining an air of mystery around the unraveling saga.
