NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal is in court trying to recoup losses and damages on a cannabis business venture. The Hall of Famer and another investor attest they were swindled by one of their partners.
O’Neal and Jerome Crawford both filed suit against Darron Campbell, his limited liability company, and 10 John Does. The lawsuit claims Campbell fumbled the ball with Viceroy LLC, the cannabis company O’Neal and Crawford invested in. The suit says Campbell wasted investments, as well as failed to account for spending properly.
Between them, O’Neal and Crawford gave Campbell $150,000 in 2016. The goal was “to pursue opportunities in the field of legal cannabis.” According to court papers, it appears Campbell never used the money for investing, or anything for that matter.
The filing claims, “By late 2017, Viceroy seemingly had no licenses, no revenue, and no operations. … Questions arose regarding defendants’ management of Viceroy and use of the invested funds.”
O’Neal and Crawford requested the right to review current business plans, copies of any licenses, timetables, tax returns, receipts, financial statements, contracts, canceled checks, and bank statements related to any investment of the funds. Campbell has never bothered to respond.
At least not until Campbell heard about the legal action by his former partners. In 2018, Campbell offered to buy back O’Neal and Crawford’s investment. The trio apparently came to a verbal agreement.
After the filing, Campbell wrote to the plaintiffs’ attorneys. He said he promised to purchase any units owned by the plaintiffs. The realtor stated he’d repay “Mr. Crawford and Mr. O’Neal on the first day of each quarter, a minimum of $10,000 until paid in full.”
The plaintiffs included the message in the lawsuit filing. Only, to date, Campbell returned just $20,000 and hasn’t shown any intent to repay the remainder plus the 10 percent interest due on each installment.
In total, with damages, the plaintiffs believe they’re entitled to over $1 million.
Campbell is reportedly involved in real estate. According to his company website, Daron Campbell Capital provides full services in “fast moving, reposition, distressed and development opportunities with exceptional returns.”
For O’Neal, this is a misstep in his business ventures. Since retiring from pro ball in 2011 (where he made close to $300 million over 19 seasons), the athlete has embarked on a multi-tier career that’s included a role on TNT as an NBA analyst. He’s put his money into eSports franchises, real estate, an Atlanta Krispy Kreme, tech companies, a stake in the Sacramento Kings, and a directorship at pizza franchise Papa John’s (becoming the company’s voice in its public campaigns). He’s also invested heavily in the bond market.
O’Neal says his businesses have made him more money than his basketball career. So, he probably has a good idea when someone’s taking him for a ride. He believes Campbell deliberately misled him with malice to commit fraud and misdirect him in the management of Viceroy LLC. Campbell’s actions have injured Viceroy, its businesses, and its investors. Campbell owes repayments and punitive damages. And O’Neal is determined to get them.
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