A Focus Academies security guard who sued Shilo Sanders in 2016 for damages related to an alleged assault—and was ultimately awarded $11.89 million in damages, though they have yet to be paid out—has argued that Sanders has not accurately disclosed his assets, especially related to any NIL deals he's signed, per Catie Cheshire of Westword.

Sanders has filed a bankruptcy proceeding in an effort to avoid paying the $11.89 million figure to John Darjean, the security guard in question.

In December 2023, Shilo Sanders—the son of Colorado head football coach Deion Sanders—divulged assets worth $320,477, down from the $477,881 he showed in October 2023. Darjean's filing has suggested that Sanders hasn't divulged "vast amounts of high-end and expensive clothing" or various public NIL deals with companies like Kentucky Fried Chicken, TurboTax and Oikos yogurt, among others.

In the alleged incident in 2015, Darjean reportedly was tasked with escorting Sanders to in-school suspension after he broke the school's no-phone policy. Shilo Sanders then allegedly called his mother, Pilar Sanders.

One of Deion Sanders' assistant coaches reportedly went to the office where Shilo was serving his punishment and called the elder Sanders before passing the phone to Darjean. Sanders allegedly requested that Darjean take the phone from Shilo when he found out he was speaking with his mother.

"You're my brother in Christ, I need you to go get the phone... as soon as you get the phone from him, give me a call back," Deion allegedly told Darjean, per court filings.

Shilo Sanders then allegedly "slammed his elbow into Darjean's chest and continued to hit Darjean after he fell. Darjean was taken to the hospital in an ambulance."

Darjean's 2016 lawsuit said he "sustained severe and permanent injuries including a broken neck, damage to his cervical spine, permanent neurological injuries and irreversible incontinence."

In Shilo Sanders' response in Bankruptcy Court this February, he disputed many of the details from Darjean's portrayal of the incident, though he did say the altercation itself took place. He said he was acting in self-defense, that Darjean instigated the conflict and that on those grounds, the claim for relief from Darjean shouldn't stand.

A trial court in 2022 found that Shilo Sanders was guilty of assault and battery and awarded Darjean damages of $11.89 million.