NFL wide receiver Joshua Bellamy has been charged with allegedly taking part in a fraudulent scheme to receive loans made for COVID-19 relief.
The Justice Department says that Bellamy who was a member of the New York Jets until Wednesday — received a PPP loan (Paycheck Protection Program) for more than $1.2 million, which was supposed to be for his company, Drip Entertainment, LLC. Bellamy was arrested this morning.
The Justice Department report says that Bellamy spent more than $104,000 in luxury items, including purchases at Dior, Gucci and various jewelers. Bellamy also is accused of spending more than $62,000 in PPP loan money at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino and withdrawing more than $302,000.
This was part of a more widespread fraud, the department said, with Bellamy also allegedly securing PPP loans on behalf of family members and close associates. Ten other defendants were named in the allegations, with total PPP loan fraud estimated to be more than $24 million. None of the other alleged co-conspirators played in the NFL.