Mercedes-Benz wants car back from Deion Sanders' son Shilo after alleged default
Colorado football safety Shilo Sanders hasn't kept up on his payments for his 2023 Mercedes-Benz, leading the car company's financial services arm to seek relief from the court where Sanders filed for bankruptcy in 2023 with more than $11 million in debt, according to court records filed Tuesday by Mercedes-Benz Financial Services.
The company said Sanders, son of Colorado coach Deion Sanders, was past due for $6,877 on his monthly payments from December through February. It also noted Sanders has an outstanding balance of $97,239 while the trade-in value for the car is less than that at $97,000.
As a result, the company wants the court's permission to take possession of the car and for Sanders to provide the location of it.
Sanders, an NFL draft prospect, filed for bankruptcy in October 2023, hoping to discharge more than $11 million in debt – almost all of it owed to one man, John Darjean, a security guard from his former school in Texas.
The Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing triggered an automatic stay or hold on debt collection efforts against him. But Mercedes-Benz Financial Services now is arguing it should be entitled to relief from this stay under these circumstances.
'The motor vehicle is depreciating in value, the contract is in default and the movant (Mercedes Benz Financial Services) is being prevented by the automatic stay from exercising its remedies to repossess and liquidate its collateral, the motor vehicle,' said the filing from Mercedes Benz Financial Services and its creditor attorney Doug Koktavy.
Records show Shilo Sanders, 25, agreed to buy the $135,000 car with installment payments in May 2023, several months before he filed for bankruptcy. He continued to make payments after filing for bankruptcy but recently defaulted, according to the company.
'Debtor (Sanders) indicated an intent to retain the motor vehicle and reaffirm the obligation,' the company's filing stated. 'Debtor has not accomplished this intention.'
Shilo Sanders' bankruptcy case stems from an incident in 2015, when Darjean said Shilo caused him severe and permanent injuries as he tried to confiscate his phone at school. Shilo was only 15 years old at the time and said he acted in self-defense and that Darjean was the aggressor. But Darjean sued Shilo for damages. And when the case finally went to trial in Dallas in 2022, Shilo didn't show up, leading to a default judgment against him of $11.89 million.
Shilo then filed for bankruptcy, hoping for a 'fresh start' free of that debt. In response, Darjean is still fighting to get what he is owed from that judgment and has filed two complaints that seek to prevent the debt from being discharged.
The filing by Mercedes-Benz this week comes as Shilo Sanders is preparing for the NFL draft later this month. It's not clear if he will be drafted, but even if he's not, he is expected to get a shot with an NFL team as an undrafted free agent.
If the debt isn't discharged by the court, Darjean still could pursue debt collection against Shilo Sanders in the future. If it is discharged by the court, Darjean likely only will collect a small fraction of the judgment he's owed from Shilo Sanders.
Sanders' attorney didn't return a message seeking comment.
Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.com
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL draft prospect Shilo Sanders facing issue over car in bankruptcy
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Associated Press
36 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Titans' Jeffery Simmons sheds 20 pounds, aims for more sacks in 2025
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee coach Brian Callahan and Jeffery Simmons both agree on what they want to see more this upcoming season from the Titans defensive lineman. More sacks. The three-time Pro Bowl lineman had just five sacks in 2024, his fewest since his second NFL season in 2020. Simmons ranked third on the Titans behind linebacker Harold Landry III, released in March, and linebacker Arden Key. Worse, the Titans tied Carolina with 32 sacks for third fewest in the NFL behind only New England (28) and Atlanta (31). Callahan said the goal is to see Simmons do more than just affect quarterbacks and take those players to the ground more. He knows the six-year veteran and first-round pick in 2019 can be better at that. He also believes Simmons is driven to do just that. 'He's always working at something, and I think he's grown as a person,' Callahan said Tuesday. 'He continues to grow as a player. You'd like to feel like he's sort of hitting his prime at this point with the experience that he has and the amount he's played to get the best version of Jeff this year.' Simmons was on the field as the Titans started their mandatory three-day minicamp Tuesday. Simmons said he's lost about 20 pounds and weighed in Tuesday morning at 301. The Titans have been talking about how to improve their sack numbers. Simmons said it's a big emphasis for him and the defense knowing that simply pressuring quarterbacks doesn't win games. 'We got to stop saying just affect the quarterback,' Simmons said. 'We've got to sack the quarterbacks.' Simmons, the 19th pick in 2019 from Mississippi State, finds himself as the longest-tenured member of the Titans' defense along with safety Amani Hooker, a fourth-round pick that same draft out of Iowa. Tennessee is trying to snap a skid of three straight losing seasons, the last a 3-14 mark in Callahan's debut as head coach. Simmons is a key piece of a defense that ranked second in the NFL in giving up 177.3 yards passing and 311.2 total yards per game. The Titans also were 26th against the run, allowing 133.9 yards and 30th in points per game (27.1). That led to Simmons' absence from the voluntary offseason program being criticized by outsiders. Simmons said working out on his own was a personal decision. 'It was a lot of different things that I did,' Simmons said. 'The biggest thing was being consistent with my every day living from my meal prep to the way I was training. ... I weighed in today on a good note.' Simmons showed off his speed carrying fewer pounds, breaking through at one point for what would have been a sack of rookie Cam Ward — the No. 1 overall draft pick. Simmons also gave Ward a nice taste of trash talking having heard how good the rookie is at that part of football. 'I haven't spent much time around them and talking smack to me and get back in the huddle and able to operate the offense, that's exciting,' Simmons said. 'And like I say, he got a lot of confidence.' Waiting on Sneed Callahan said cornerback L'Jarius Sneed probably won't be seen during this minicamp on the field. The Titans traded for Sneed last offseason, and the two-time Super Bowl champ played only five games before landing on injured reserve. The Titans coach said what they've seen from Sneed has been fantastic and they know his track record as a player. Now Callahan said Sneed has to prove that in Tennessee, which he hasn't done yet. 'We just hope we need to get that version of him out here for us,' Callahan said. ___ AP NFL:
Fox Sports
41 minutes ago
- Fox Sports
Bills quarterback Josh Allen shows off new ring following marriage to actor Hailee Steinfeld
Associated Press ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Josh Allen's broad grin was familiar. The wedding band on the quarterback's ring finger was brand new. As much as Allen hoped to talk about the Buffalo Bills on Tuesday, the newlywed couldn't escape questions about his headline-grabbing marriage to actor/singer Hailee Steinfeld in Southern California on May 31. 'We're back to football,' he said, before pointing to his ring finger. 'Got some hardware now. So, good to go.' Allen was otherwise short on details as part of his longstanding bid to maintain a semblance of privacy, even though pictures from the outdoor wedding were posted on social media mere minutes after the couple exchanged 'I do's.' There were pictures of Steinfeld wearing a strapless white gown walking down the aisle, the couple sharing a kiss, and Allen, in a black tuxedo, posing with friends and Bills teammates. It wasn't until being asked about what the past four months have meant to him — in which Allen was named NFL MVP in February, signed one of the league's richest contracts in March and got married in May — that Allen finally opened up. He called Steinfeld his best friend, and said she makes everything easier. 'That was the most important decision I'll make in my life and I made the right one,' Allen said. Western New York and the NFL have a new power couple, both of whom happen to be from California and began dating two years ago. There's the 29-year-old Allen, who in seven seasons has set most of the Bills scoring and passing records. His star has continued to rise while he has transformed the Bills into an AFC power, also building his profile through various national commercials. And then there's Steinfeld, 28, who first gained fame by earning an Oscar nomination for best supporting actress for her role as Mattie Ross in the Coen brothers' 2010 remake of 'True Grit.' She has since enjoyed numerous starring roles, most recently in the movie 'Sinners,' while also branching out into music. Amid the buzz, Allen brought the focus back to football as Buffalo opened a three-day mandatory set of practices. The quarterback skipped the team's voluntary sessions last week. Aside from taking his familiar spot leading the offense on the field, Allen spent time after practice being filmed to measure his footwork and mechanics. It's something Allen does several times a year to ensure he's not picking up bad habits. 'Making sure we're staying on top of those things and if there's something that we need to tweak for the better, we are going to try to do it,' he said. The same could be said of Allen's unflinching approach to dealing with the spotlight. Coach Sean McDermott credits the quarterback for staying true to himself. 'What I've seen is this truly genuine, authentic person who, yes, is in the limelight, yes, is one of the top players in our league, and maybe the top player in the NFL,' McDermott said. 'But he is so authentic, so down-to-earth, so relatable. I think that's really the connection and the cool piece about Josh is because he is who he is.' And yes, McDermott was among those in attendance at the wedding. 'I was very grateful to be there, No. 1,' McDermott said. 'Two, it was what you would expect of a wedding. Just great to see, and two really special families coming together.' ___ AP NFL: recommended in this topic
Associated Press
41 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Bills quarterback Josh Allen shows off new ring following marriage to actor Hailee Steinfeld
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Josh Allen's broad grin was familiar. The wedding band on the quarterback's ring finger was brand new. As much as Allen hoped to talk about the Buffalo Bills on Tuesday, the newlywed couldn't escape questions about his headline-grabbing marriage to actor/singer Hailee Steinfeld in Southern California on May 31. 'We're back to football,' he said, before pointing to his ring finger. 'Got some hardware now. So, good to go.' Allen was otherwise short on details as part of his longstanding bid to maintain a semblance of privacy, even though pictures from the outdoor wedding were posted on social media mere minutes after the couple exchanged 'I do's.' There were pictures of Steinfeld wearing a strapless white gown walking down the aisle, the couple sharing a kiss, and Allen, in a black tuxedo, posing with friends and Bills teammates. It wasn't until being asked about what the past four months have meant to him — in which Allen was named NFL MVP in February, signed one of the league's richest contracts in March and got married in May — that Allen finally opened up. He called Steinfeld his best friend, and said she makes everything easier. 'That was the most important decision I'll make in my life and I made the right one,' Allen said. Western New York and the NFL have a new power couple, both of whom happen to be from California and began dating two years ago. There's the 29-year-old Allen, who in seven seasons has set most of the Bills scoring and passing records. His star has continued to rise while he has transformed the Bills into an AFC power, also building his profile through various national commercials. And then there's Steinfeld, 28, who first gained fame by earning an Oscar nomination for best supporting actress for her role as Mattie Ross in the Coen brothers' 2010 remake of 'True Grit.' She has since enjoyed numerous starring roles, most recently in the movie 'Sinners,' while also branching out into music. Amid the buzz, Allen brought the focus back to football as Buffalo opened a three-day mandatory set of practices. The quarterback skipped the team's voluntary sessions last week. Aside from taking his familiar spot leading the offense on the field, Allen spent time after practice being filmed to measure his footwork and mechanics. It's something Allen does several times a year to ensure he's not picking up bad habits. 'Making sure we're staying on top of those things and if there's something that we need to tweak for the better, we are going to try to do it,' he said. The same could be said of Allen's unflinching approach to dealing with the spotlight. Coach Sean McDermott credits the quarterback for staying true to himself. 'What I've seen is this truly genuine, authentic person who, yes, is in the limelight, yes, is one of the top players in our league, and maybe the top player in the NFL,' McDermott said. 'But he is so authentic, so down-to-earth, so relatable. I think that's really the connection and the cool piece about Josh is because he is who he is.' And yes, McDermott was among those in attendance at the wedding. 'I was very grateful to be there, No. 1,' McDermott said. 'Two, it was what you would expect of a wedding. Just great to see, and two really special families coming together.' ___ AP NFL:
