Wes Edens, the billionaire co-owner of the Milwaukee Bucks, has been identified as the victim of an alleged $1 billion extortion scheme following a brief, torrid love affair, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The charges, filed in federal court in New York, do not publicly identify Edens, but The Journal confirmed he is the person described in the indictment. The case is set to go to trial later this year, federal court records show.
News of the alleged blackmail comes the same day as Edens’ daughter, Mallory, is set to represent the Bucks at the 2026 NBA draft lottery.
Prosecutors have charged 46-year-old Changli “Sophia” Luo with blackmail, extortion and other charges in the alleged shakedown, which continued for months starting in late 2024 through spring 2025. The blackmail reportedly began following the dissolution of a brief romantic relationship between Edens and Luo.
According to court records and the Wall Street Journal, Luo threatened to publicize photographs and videos of she and Edens having sex if Edens did not pay her more than $1 billion. She even reached out to Edens’ family members, “told him she would approach investors, and pledged to destroy him,” The Journal wrote.
Luo reportedly accused Edens of having sex with her while she was “mentally incapacitated” and told him the cameras in her home had recorded “everything he did to her.”
Edens, 64, denied the claims but reportedly participated in the scheme to avoid public embarrassment and to prevent his family from being harassed. Court records show he previously agreed to settle the matter for $6.5 million with $1 million upfront.
Luo later found out she tested positive for a sexually transmitted disease, for which she blamed Edens, and sought more money, The Journal reported.
A spokesperson for Edens told the Wall Street Journal, “Mr. Edens will be making no comment on the case as the indictment speaks for itself with respect to the charges against the defendant.”
“Mr. Edens expects to testify under oath at the upcoming trial,” the spokesperson said.
Luo is free on a $500,000 recognizance bond, court records show.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee Bucks co-owner was victim of a $1 billion blackmail plan, WSJ reports
Reporting by Steven Martinez, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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