The billionaire co-owner of the Milwaukee Bucks was allegedly targeted in a jaw-dropping extortion scheme involving secret sex tapes, fake identities, love letters, and demands for more than $1 billion, according to federal prosecutors.
Wesley Edens — the billionaire investor who co-owns both the Milwaukee Bucks and English soccer club Aston Villa — is at the center of a scandalous federal case now unfolding in New York.
Prosecutors say 46-year-old Changli “Sophia” Luo allegedly tried to blackmail Edens after the pair began a romantic relationship that reportedly started through LinkedIn.
Luo, who was born in China and founded a nonprofit organization focused on interviewing entrepreneurs and environmentalists, allegedly first connected with Edens in 2022.
But according to court filings, things escalated dramatically after the two reportedly had sex at Luo’s apartment during their third meeting in June 2023.
Federal prosecutors claim Luo later threatened to release intimate photos and videos involving Edens unless he paid her an astronomical amount of money.
The alleged demands reportedly ballooned to more than $1.2 billion.
Court filings cited by The Wall Street Journal claim Luo sent emotional love letters to Edens while also threatening to “destroy him,” contact investors, and reach out to members of his family.
“I do love you from the bottom of my heart,” one alleged letter reportedly said.
The situation allegedly became even more disturbing when Luo reportedly visited Edens’ then-girlfriend — who is now his wife — at the medical office where she worked using a fake name. Prosecutors say Luo told the woman about the alleged affair and called Edens “a terrible person.”
Luo has also accused Edens of having sex with her while she was “mentally incapacitated,” according to court documents. She allegedly claimed surveillance cameras around her apartment captured “everything he did.”
Edens has denied those allegations.
According to prosecutors, the billionaire initially agreed to settle the dispute for $6.5 million, including a $1 million upfront payment, because he feared public humiliation if the alleged materials became public.
But prosecutors say the demands didn’t stop there.
After allegedly testing positive for a sexually transmitted disease, Luo reportedly blamed Edens and demanded even more money — eventually asking for a staggering $1.215 billion.
The case reportedly triggered a federal investigation in early 2025 after Edens’ attorney contacted prosecutors in Manhattan.
Luo was arrested at JFK Airport in June 2025 while allegedly attempting to board a flight to China. She has pleaded not guilty to charges that include extortion, blackmail, and destruction of records.
She is currently free on a $500,000 bond and under home detention while awaiting trial later this year.
The bizarre case took another twist when investigators reportedly discovered hidden phones inside Luo’s Manhattan apartment during an FBI search. One phone was allegedly found inside a laundry basket while another was reportedly hidden in a box of sanitary pads.
Prosecutors claim one of the devices contained manipulated pornographic images and videos featuring Edens’ face placed onto another man’s body.
Edens’ spokesperson declined to discuss details of the case but said the billionaire plans to testify at trial.
Meanwhile, Luo’s attorneys are pushing to have the charges dismissed, arguing she was simply seeking justice and compensation following what they described as an “inappropriate and aggressive sexual encounter.”
The shocking allegations surfaced publicly the same day Edens’ daughter, model Mallory Edens, represented the Bucks at the NBA Draft Lottery in Chicago.
Lock the Bitch up!