{"id":48633,"date":"2021-12-10T17:54:14","date_gmt":"2021-12-11T01:54:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=48633"},"modified":"2021-12-10T23:17:38","modified_gmt":"2021-12-11T07:17:38","slug":"former-nfl-player-sentenced-to-prison-for-1-2-million-covid-19-relief-fraud","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=48633","title":{"rendered":"Former NFL Player Sentenced to Prison for Multi-Million-Dollar COVID-19 Relief Fraud"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A former National Football League (NFL) player was sentenced Friday to three years in federal prison for fraudulently obtaining over $1.2 million through a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan, officials stated.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"FBI
FBI Photo Image<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The loan is guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to court documents, Joshua J. Bellamy, 32, of St. Petersburg, Florida, a former NFL player, pleaded guilty\u00a0on June 9\u00a0in the Southern District of Florida to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0Bellamy signed with the Jets in 2019 but was sidelined with a shoulder injury<\/a> in March after playing in seven games. He was cut from the team in September, according to a Jets spokesman. He had played for the Chicago Bears from 2014 to 2018.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"In\u00a0a federal complaint<\/a>, prosecutors said that Mr. Bellamy had taken part in a scheme with 10 other defendants who collectively filed at least 90 fraudulent loan applications seeking more than $24 million in coronavirus relief loans. <\/span><\/p>\n

Many of those loan applications were approved and funded by financial institutions, paying out at least $17.4 million, prosecutors said.<\/span><\/p>\n

As part of the fraud scheme, Bellamy obtained a PPP loan of $1,246,565 for his company, Drip Entertainment LLC, using falsified documents and false information. Bellamy admitted to using the PPP loan proceeds on personal items, such as jewelry, and a stay at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. <\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"Bellamy also sought PPP loans on behalf of his family members and close associates. Bellamy further admitted that he paid more than $311,000 to an alleged co-conspirator, James Stote, as a kickback for his assistance in preparing and submitting the fraudulent loan application. <\/span><\/p>\n

In addition to his prison sentence, Bellamy was ordered to serve three years of supervised released and pay $1.2 million in restitution and $1.2\u00a0 in forfeiture.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"In addition, a Florida woman was sentenced on Dec. 9 to two years in federal prison for fraudulently obtaining a PPP loan as part of this criminal scheme. <\/span><\/p>\n

According to court documents, Yashica Bain, 38, of Miramar, Florida, pleaded guilty on Sept. 30 in the Southern District of Florida to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. <\/span><\/p>\n

As part of the fraud scheme, Bain obtained a PPP loan of $415,232 for her company, Microblading Brow Studio LLC, using falsified documents and false information. Bain used the PPP loan proceeds to enrich herself and others who never worked for her company. <\/span><\/p>\n

She falsely described those payments as \u201cpayroll\u201d and \u201cwages\u201d to perpetrate this fraud. Bain admitted that she paid more than $28,000 to Stote as a kickback for his assistance in preparing and submitting the fraudulent loan application. <\/span><\/p>\n

In addition to her prison sentence, Bain was ordered to serve three years of supervised released and pay $415,232 in restitution and $415,232 in forfeiture.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Stote was charged by complaint on June 24, 2020, with wire fraud, bank fraud, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud. His case remains pending.<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

IRS-CI, the FBI, and SBA-OIG investigated the cases.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division\u2019s prosecution of fraud schemes that exploit the PPP. Since the inception of the CARES Act, the Fraud Section has prosecuted over 150 defendants in more than 95 criminal cases and has seized over $75 million in cash proceeds derived from fraudulently obtained PPP funds, as well as numerous real estate properties and luxury items purchased with such proceeds. More information can be found at\u00a0https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/criminal-fraud\/ppp-fraud<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice\u2019s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at\u00a0https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/disaster-fraud\/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A former National Football League (NFL) player was sentenced Friday to three years in federal prison for fraudulently obtaining over $1.2 million through a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan, officials stated. 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