link: https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id...harged-24-million-covid-19-relief-loan-scheme Former New York Jets wide receiver Josh Bellamy was arrested for his alleged role in a $24 million scheme to receive illegal loans intended for coronavirus relief, the U.S. Justice Department announced Thursday. Bellamy, 31, was charged in a federal criminal complaint with fraud, bank fraud, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud. He allegedly received more than $1.2 million in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans for his company Drip Entertainment LLC, according to the Justice Department. Bellamy, recovering from a shoulder injury, was released Tuesday from the Jets' physically unable to perform list. The organization wasn't aware of the arrest at the time of the release, a source said. He was arrested Thursday morning in Florida and was scheduled to appear later in the day before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christopher Tuite of the Middle District of Florida. According to the Justice Department, Bellamy spent more than $62,000 in loan money at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Florida. He also is accused of using more than $104,000 for luxury goods, including purchases at Dior, Gucci and various jewelers, in addition to withdrawing more than $302,000. Ten other defendants were allegedly involved in the scheme. The PPP allows qualifying small businesses suffering financial hardship from the COVID-19 pandemic to receive low-interest loans. Bellamy, who broke into the NFL in 2012 as an undrafted free agent for the Kansas City Chiefs, signed a two-year, $5 million contract last year with the Jets. He played almost exclusively on special teams, as he made only two receptions as a receiver. He suffered a season-ending shoulder injury and began training camp on the PUP list.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/...layer-in-24-million-coronavirus-relief-scheme The Justice Department charged multiple individuals who allegedly filed fraudulent applications seeking millions of dollars in coronavirus relief, including a National Football League player. The criminal complaint filed in the Southern District of Florida charged 31-year-old Joshua Bellamy, a former player with the New York Jets who was placed on the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform List in May, with a string of crimes, including wire fraud, bank fraud, and conspiracy to commit both criminal acts. Bellamy, according to the complaint, used falsified documents to obtain a $1.2 million loan for his talent managing company, Drip Entertainment, but used approximately $104,000 of the money for "luxury goods" at Dior, Gucci, and jewelry stores. It alleges he also used over $62,700 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida, while seeking loans from the Paycheck Protection Program for his family and close confidants.
He's such an idiot. If you're going to steal money from the government, you need to steal enough money to afford the necessary bribes to get away with it.
$5 million for two years seems awfully generous for a player of this caliber. Dude is more a NFL veteran minimum type IMO. $5 million for this guy for $5 million more they could've re-signed their #1 wr this offseason. Just bad bad bad business decisions this organization makes.
Mac should be up for fraud for handing this guy a 5m contract and then the backhander contract to Q which on the face of it is dodgy as hell.
The guy was a 29 year old journeyman. MacIdiot signed him right at the start of free agency (like anyone else would want him?). One of the many concepts MacMoron did not understand is that you don't use free agent money to sign a guy for special teams--that is what backups and rookie free agents are for. As it turned out, Bellamy was nothing special on the jets special teams anyway.
Gase wanted Bellamy, that’s why he was brought in. It was his idea of bringing on one of his ‘character’ guys lol.
Exactly. Robby Anderson was worth it. And he'll be lined up playing for Carolina tomorrow. Unlike Mims who we just spent a 2nd round pick on pulling hammy after hammy. Robby Anderson was a keeper and he's going to flourish for his Panthers. Why pay Josh $5,000,000 when for 5M more we'd still have Robby? Awful.
Interesting theory, especially since Gase wanted MacCagnan gone since Gase claimed Maccagnan did not consult with Gase over player signings like Mosely and Bell, who Gase thought were vastly overpaid . Also, Gase's major complaint was that MacCagnan virtually ignored Gase during the 2019 draft. With all that, it would be unusual to me that Gase and MacCagnan were on same page with Bellamy, but ya never know.
