$idelined by NFL ‘swindle’

Loan-scheme suit

A hedge fund that allegedly preyed on pro athletes is still ruining lives, an exNFL player charges.

Former Carolina Panther Nic Harris was one of nearly two dozen athletes who fell for lender Darien Dash (right top), brother of “Clueless” star Stacey Dash and cousin of Roc-A-Fella Records co-founder Damon Dash.

Darien Dash, 45, headed Pro Player Funding, a Manhattan subsidiary of Platinum Partners hedge fund, whose execs were busted last year on charges of running a $1 billion Ponzi scheme.

During the 2011 NFL lockout, Dash, with backing from Platinum, talked players into taking loans with onerous interest rates and terms, Harris and others charge.

Players across the NFL, including ex-quarterback Vince Young (left bottom), as well as some in the NBA and NHL were given loans. Harris claims in a Manhattan Supreme Court suit that Dash lied about his $155,000 loan’s terms.

“I was led to believe that I wouldn’t necessarily have to pay anything back if I wasn’t playing anymore,” he said.

Once the Panthers cut Harris in 2011, Pro Player sought repayment in court.

Harris says the move ruined his credit rating and that he learned of the judgment only in March, when he was denied a loan.

“A lot of the players are still paying for it today,” said his lawyer, Paul Stuart Haberman.

Dash could not be reached. Pro Player declined to comment.