Wide receiver Josh Bellamy. (Photo: Getty Images)
National Football League wide receiver Joshua Bellamy was arrested and charged for his alleged participation in a scheme to file fraudulent loan applications seeking more than $24 million in Paycheck Protection Program loans, with he himself receiving $1.2 million, according to the U.S. Justice Department.
In a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida on Thursday, the former New York Jets player and current free agent was charged with wire fraud, bank fraud, attempt and conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud.
From on or about May 21 to at least on or about Aug. 3, Bellamy allegedly participated in a scheme to obtain by fraud more than $24 million in forgivable loans through the PPP and other government programs, conspiring with a person now cooperating with the investigation, referred to in the complaint only as "CHS2," and others, according the complaint.
Bellamy obtained a fraudulent PPP loan for his own company, Drip Entertainment, with CHS 2 "providing falsified documents and assisting in submitting the application on Defendant's behalf in exchange for a kickback from the loan proceeds," according to the complaint.
ln total, bank records showed Bellamy withdrew about $302,800 of the funds he received between May 28 and July 28, according to the complaint.
The bank records also reflected what appeared to be purchases of jewelry and other luxury items totaling more than $100,000, including: A wire transfer of $57,000 to a custom jewelry store; a $38,000 wire transfer to another jewelry store; $5,380 in goods at Gucci; $1,020 at Milano Exchange; and $2,010 at Dior, the complaint alleged.
