Financial Advisor, Financial Planner, NBA Agent, And Previously Convicted Fraudster Charged With Schemes To Defraud Professional Basketball Players
Mar 23, 2023 · Sourced to the U.S. Department of Justice
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Michael J.
Defendants
- Darryl Cohen — age 49 · Chatsworth, California; Las Vegas, Nevada · indicted
- Brian Gilder — age 49 · North Ridge, California · indicted
- Charles Briscoe — age 35 · Katy, Texas · indicted
- Calvin Darden, Jr. — age 49 · Atlanta, Georgia · indicted
Charges
Conspiracy to commit wire fraud
Max: 20 years in prisonDarryl Cohen· indicted
Wire fraud
Max: 20 years in prisonDarryl Cohen· indicted
Investment advisor fraud
Max: five years in prisonDarryl Cohen· indicted
Conspiracy to commit wire fraud
Max: 20 years in prisonBrian Gilder· indicted
Wire fraud
Max: 20 years in prisonBrian Gilder· indicted
Conspiracy to commit wire fraud
Max: 20 years in prisonCharles Briscoe· indicted
Wire fraud
Max: 20 years in prisonCharles Briscoe· indicted
Aggravated identity theft
Max: mandatory two years in prisonCharles Briscoe· indicted
Conspiracy to commit wire fraud
Max: 20 years in prisonCalvin Darden, Jr.· indicted
Wire fraud
Max: 20 years in prisonCalvin Darden, Jr.· indicted
Financial actions
- fraud loss: more than $13 million — Total amount defendants defrauded four professional basketball players
- fraud loss: over $5 million — Amount Cohen defrauded three professional basketball player clients through advisory and fiduciary relationships
- fraud proceeds: approximately $4.5 million — Profit Law Firm-1 made from sale of viatical life insurance policies to athlete clients at markups
- misappropriation: approximately $257,479 — Funds Gilder used to pay off a mortgage he owed
- misappropriation: approximately $178,462 — Funds Cohen used to renovate his home and perform work on his pool
- misappropriation: approximately $67,500 — Funds Cohen used to pay off his personal credit card bill
- misappropriation: approximately $200,000 — Funds Cohen transferred to an individual with whom he was in a romantic relationship
- misappropriation: $500,000 — Funds Cohen directed to be transferred from accounts of Athletes-2 and -3 as purported donations to a non-profit organization
- misappropriation: approximately $238,000 — Funds purportedly donated to non-profit that Cohen used to build athletic training facilities in backyard of his home
- misappropriation: approximately $328,125 — Athlete-2's money channeled to repay former professional baseball player (Athlete-4)
- fraud loss: $7 million — Funds Athlete-5 transferred to bank account controlled by Darden, Jr. for purported purchase of Team-1
- misappropriation: more than $1 million — Funds Darden, Jr. transferred to Briscoe
- misappropriation: more than $500,000 — Funds Darden, Jr. sent to a relative
- misappropriation: more than $400,000 — Funds Darden, Jr. sent to a cryptocurrency exchange for his benefit
- misappropriation: approximately $880,000 — Funds Darden, Jr. spent on luxury car companies
- misappropriation: more than $300,000 — Funds Darden, Jr. spent at art galleries
- misappropriation: more than $100,000 — Funds Darden, Jr. used to purchase a piano
- misappropriation: in excess of approximately $1 million — Funds Darden, Jr. spent in connection with purchasing and improving a residence, including addition of a koi pond
- fraud loss: $1 million — Funds Briscoe directed Athlete-2 to transfer as a purported 'loan' to Athlete-6
- misappropriation: approximately $306,642 — Funds transferred by Athlete-2 that Briscoe used to pay off a personal debt
- misappropriation: approximately $544,000 — Funds Briscoe transferred to a bank account controlled by Darden, Jr.
From the announcement
“We gotta send [Athlete-4] more to get rid of him.”
Investigating agencies
Case details
- Prosecuting office
- Southern District of New York
Primary source
Every fact above is drawn from the Department of Justice's own announcement — a public-domain government record.
Read the original DOJ release →This is a research and reference page compiled from public DOJ announcements, not legal advice. Details reflect the government's statements as of its release date and may not capture later developments such as appeals, dismissals, or overturned convictions. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.