NEWNow you can listen to Fox News articles!
Sexual harassment allegations against Milwaukee Bucks owner Wes Edens have taken a turn for the worse after the Chinese climate activist accused of defrauding him discovered he had an STD and demanded more money, according to court documents.
Prosecutors allege that Changli “Sophia” Luo demanded as much as $1 billion, later reduced to $50 million – while threatening to “destroy” the millionaire investor with pornographic images and report him to authorities.
He was arrested at John F. Kennedy International Airport last year with a one-way ticket to his home country of China, according to court documents.
FBI CAPTURES BANGLADESH MAN IN MAJOR ONLINE CHILDREN'S ROOT
Separate photo showing Bucks owner Wes Edens and Changli “Sophia” Luo, a Chinese woman accused of defrauding tens of millions of dollars. (Jeff Hanisch/USA Today Sports, One World Initiative)
Bail papers show his $500,000 bond was posted by a man named Robin Mui, who the New York Post identified Wednesday as an official at a US newspaper affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party.
But his defense team says he is not a flight risk after surrendering his passport.
Luo is the founder of One World Initiative, a New York-based nonprofit focused on “climate change, economic development, global health” and other topics, according to his LinkedIn profile. The nonprofit's website was not accessible Wednesday, but archived versions call for “net zero emissions by 2050” and describe climate change as “the number one challenge humanity faces.”
Edens, 64, is a billionaire Wall Street investor and part owner of the Bucks.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TOP NEWSOM ALLY AND CCP OFFICIALLY STATED IN NETWORKING COUNTRY: 'HE HELPED ME A LOT'
Former Green Bay Packers player Aaron Rodgers and Milwaukee Bucks owner Wes Edens watch Game Five of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Toronto Raptors and the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wis., on May 23, 2019. (Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
“On or about May 2024, LUO sent two letters to Victim-1 via iMessage, accusing Victim-1 of, among other things, of 'misleading' LUO into having sex with her, and, alternatively, of having sex with LUO while she was incapacitated or mentally impaired,” prosecutors wrote in court. “LUO said in these letters that 'his home has cameras,' and that '[e]a lot [Victim-1] did was caught on camera,' which the LUO will reveal to 'mass media,' if Victim-1 does not apologize.”
The two initially settled for about $6 million — before she found out she had HPV during their first date, according to a lawsuit filed by one of her attorneys, Arthur Aidala.
He filed a motion to have the case dismissed last month, arguing his former attorney, Tyrone Blackburn, mishandled settlement negotiations and threatened Edens.
BLAKE MOSTLY ACCUSED OF USING JOURNALISTS 'AS CHURCH' IN JUSTIN BALDONI SEXUAL ASSAULT ALLEGATION
Milwaukee Bucks owner Wes Edens watches before a game against the Memphis Grizzlies at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wis., Jan. 19, 2022. (Jeff Hanisch/USA TODAY Sports)
Luo used Blackburn to seek a new settlement with a much higher payment — more than $1 billion at first, later reduced to $50 million, according to the filing. Now, his criminal defense team says Blackburn's behavior during settlement talks included threats to “destroy” Edens.
In a motion to dismiss, Luo's defense argued that Blackburn made aggressive statements but has not been charged.
In a fiery email to Fox News Digital, Blackburn disputed many of the defense team's claims.
“Sophia Luo's counsel is trying to tamper with the evidence by using me as a scapegoat for behavior that happened before I was involved,” he wrote.
FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X
Brightline Founder and Chairman Wes Edens and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg speak after firing the first shot at the Brightline West Las Vegas station on April 22, 2024. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
He said the most damaging evidence predates his involvement, including “fake AI videos, fake medical records, fake nonprofit claims, fake business websites, threats involving a person's children and family, and escalating cash demands of $1 billion, $750 million, $500 million, $250 million, and $175 million.”
Blackburn also said he warned Luo about his behavior.
“His counsel may also want to question their client about the many warnings I gave him, and the fact that I never filed a civil suit against Mr. Edens – despite his consistent request that I do so,” he wrote.
He ended with a challenge.
BLAKE LIVELY WANTS JUSTIN BALDONI'S CALL RECORDS TO REVEAL METHODS USED TO 'CALL HIM'
“If his lawyers believe that my behavior is consistent with their accountability, they should call me,” he added. “I will gladly appear, testify under oath, and answer all questions truthfully.”
Fortress Investment Group founder Wes Edens arrives at the Sun Valley lodge for the Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference on July 8, 2025, in Sun Valley, Idaho. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
During the second interview, Luo allegedly threatened the following:
“If Victim-1 did not take 'responsibility,' Luo was determined to 'destroy' Victim-1,” prosecutors wrote. “The LUO had multiple cameras in the apartment where the Sexual Encounter took place and the LUO has at least two videos and photographs of the Sexual Encounter, which it would provide to others without a verdict.”
SUBSCRIBE FOR CRIME NEWS
In addition, he is accused of threatening to tell federal investigators about the alleged bribery of government officials.
Federal prosecutors, however, suspect an elaborate conspiracy to not only impersonate Edens, but also to conceal evidence from the FBI.
SEND US A TIP HERE
“On April 5, 2025, prior to the issuance of the search warrants in May [2025]the defendant Googled the name of one of the US attorneys handling the case, suggesting he knew law enforcement had been investigating him since that day,” prosecutors wrote in their bail application.
When agents arrived at his Manhattan apartment with a search warrant, he allegedly ignored their calls, texted each other and knocked on the door until a maintenance worker let them in. During the search, many mobile phones were found, one was hidden in dirty laundry and the other had sanitary pads, and digital drives, and it is suspected that he had edited pictures showing Edens' face on another man's body while they were having sex.
LISTEN TO THE NEW 'CRIME AND JUSTICE PODCAST WITH DONNA ROTUNNO'
The two first met in 2022 after Luo connected with Edens on LinkedIn, according to court documents.
They went a few times and had sex at his house.
LIKE WHAT YOU READ? FIND OUT MORE ON TRUE CRIME
After that, prosecutors say he expressed his love for her in a text message.
“I've never told you that I love you, and tonight I want to tell you that, I've been holding back my feelings for you,” read another part, quoted in court documents. “Like I love you from the bottom of my heart!”
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS PROGRAM
Eden didn't answer. A few months later, he reached out again, and she ignored him. He then allegedly showed up at his new girlfriend's job using a fake name and said he forced her to have an abortion and was a “bad, nasty person” who took him to Jeffrey Epstein, according to court documents.
The judge has yet to rule on Luo's motion to dismiss the case.
