A Miami-based “international hemp firm” is a plaintiff in a lawsuit alleging a conspiracy involving legal wire fraud, embezzlement and cash laundering in opposition to 4 hashish executives.
The corporate, LGNDS, joined ex-boxer Mike Tyson {and professional} wrestler Ric Aptitude in suing former enterprise companions over their celeb hashish branding ventures, alleging they have been defrauded and reduce out of revenues. Tyson and Aptitude, who tied their names and likenesses to a spread of marijuana and hemp merchandise, are the lead plaintiffs in a 76-page criticism filed Dec. 19, 2025 in U.S. District Court docket in Illinois. Carma, a Chicago-based branding firm behind their hashish manufacturers, is a fourth plaintiff.
The lawsuit names former Carma executives and shareholders as defendants:
• Chad Bronstein, former chairman and president of Carma;
• Adam Wilks, former chief govt officer;
• Nicole Cosby, former board member and chief authorized and licensing officer; and
• James Case, a Carma shareholder.
They’re accused of defrauding the celeb companions and treating LGNDS as “their very own private piggy financial institution,” in accordance with the lawsuit.
LGNDS’s position
LGNDS bought rights to make use of Tyson’s likeness on a broad vary of merchandise comprised of hemp, mushrooms, nicotine and kava, and merchandising akin to attire and footwear.
LGNDS was introduced into the celeb branding efforts particularly to assist launch an e-commerce market with international transport for 3 “hemp-derived verticals”: delta-8 THC, hemp-derived delta-9 THC and CBD. Bulletins across the time of that deal branded LGNDS as a “market-leading hemp firm” with “international attain” and product innovation in hemp-derived cannabinoids.
Alleged misconduct
Past basic claims of fraud, the criticism lays out a sample of alleged self-dealing tied to how licensing rights and sponsorships have been accredited and monetized. In accordance with the submitting, the defendants entered into a number of sublicensing and promotional agreements with out correct authorization, utilizing Tyson’s and Aptitude’s names and mental property to market hashish and hemp merchandise outdoors the agreed licensing framework.
The lawsuit additionally alleges the defendants misrepresented Carma’s valuation to buyers whereas promoting private shareholdings at a revenue, and diverted worth via non-cash inducements from enterprise companions slightly than routing licensing charges via the corporate. The criticism additional claims {that a} separate entity was created to commercialize Ric Aptitude’s likeness, with management later transferred to Carma with out Aptitude’s knowledgeable consent.
The submitting additionally accuses the defendants of awarding themselves extreme compensation and bonuses, decreasing funds accessible to the celeb companions and different stakeholders.
Northern California ties
The criticism raises conflict-of-interest issues tied to Carma’s hashish manufacturing and distribution relationships. It alleges that one defendant held senior roles at each Carma and a hashish funding agency with pursuits in Northern California hashish operators concerned in producing Tyson-branded merchandise.
Underneath a 2022 settlement, one such operator was to fabricate and market Tyson-branded hashish flower and pre-rolls in trade for royalties. The swimsuit alleges these funds weren’t made as required, and that obligations have been waived in trade for private fairness pursuits, leaving Carma to increase loans that stay largely unpaid.
