Summary: To avoid more jail time, Maxim scammer, Calvin R. Darden sold out his lawyer, Harvey Newkirk, to the federal government.
Surprise, surprise. An infamous swindler turned out to be a master snitch. This week, Calvin R. Darden, who made headlines as the Maxim scammer took the stand to help the government take down his former attorney, Harvey Newkirk.
When the defense asked Darden why he was helping the prosecution, Darden admitted he didn’t want to go back to jail. In 2005, he was convicted for a stock swindle that cheated celebrities such as rapper Nelly and NBA star Latrell Sprewell. He served 3 ½ years in prison, but after his release, he proved to have changed not one bit, except for the knowledge that he didn’t like to imprisoned.
Calvin R. Darden isn’t a typical con man. He’s the son of an influential businessmen (Calvin Darden with no middle name) who was once deemed more powerful than Oprah amongst African-American business people. However, instead of getting to work like good old dad, junior chose to make his way in business by lying and sponging off his father’s success. For instance, when he decided to do the Maxim deal, he pretended to be his father because he knew people wouldn’t want to work with him because of the stock swindle.
In an elaborate scheme, Darden cheated millions from investors who believed they were purchasing the men’s magazine, Maxim. Darden created a fake email for his father, pretended to be him on the phone, and concocted fake bank statements.
Darden and Newkirk were arrested by the FBI last year.
Although Darden was a master duper with a record, it appears that the prosecution thinks Newkirk is the bigger fish to fry. Prosecutors allege that Newkirk was a knowing co-conspirator who helped Darden fake the documents. They say that he even listened in when Darden pretended to be his father on phone calls with investors.
Newkirk retains his innocence, saying he’s the “victim” of Darden’s lies and that he was duped himself. His lawyer told the judge he may take the stand.
Source: http://nypost.com/2014/02/13/man-busted-in-maxim-magazine-scam/
Source: http://nypost.com/2015/12/01/lawyer-maxim-scammer-turned-on-me-to-avoid-jail-time/
Source: http://nypost.com/2015/11/25/scammer-blasts-attorney-as-co-conspirator-during-maxim-trial/