Mike Tyson, Ric Flair Sue Ex-Partners in Weed Business for $50 Million

OG article by Ryan Glasspiegel and Ben Horney

December 24, 2025

Mike Tyson and Ric Flair, along with Carma and LGNDS, filed a 76-page, 21-count lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Illinois against former Carma executives Chad Bronstein, Adam Wilks, Nicole Cosby, and shareholder James Case. The suit alleges fraud, breach of contract, a "brazen RICO conspiracy" involving criminal wire fraud, embezzlement, money laundering, extortion, securities fraud, and self-dealing, which enriched the defendants by tens of millions of dollars. Bronstein, Wilks, and Cosby held roles as president and chairman, CEO, and chief legal and licensing officer, respectively, while Case is a shareholder. The companies collaborate on distributing Tyson 2.0 and Ric Flair Drip cannabis products using the celebrities' likenesses.

Key accusations include unauthorized sales of licensing rights, an undisclosed kickback deal by Wilks with vape maker DomPen for concealed payments in exchange for ignoring unauthorized use of Carma's intellectual property, and misuse of over $1 million for personal expenses such as private jet travel, yacht costs, residence renovations, mortgage payments, lavish meals, travel, and unapproved compensation. The lawsuit seeks a jury trial and over $50 million in damages, legal fees, and costs.

Defendants' attorneys rejected the claims: Jonathan Cyrluk for Bronstein and Cosby called the complaint "fiction dressed up as a lawsuit" and accused plaintiffs of intimidation via settlement demands, while Terry Campbell for Wilks deemed the allegations meritless and an attempt to coerce payment through headlines. Bronstein serves as an executive at Real American Freestyle, a wrestling promotion partnered with the late Hulk Hogan and distributed via Fox Nation. Carma previously sued Bronstein and Cosby in July for misappropriating confidential information about a beer brand project linked to Hogan’s Real American Beer; that suit remains ongoing after a motion to dismiss.