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NFL Player Charged for Role in $24 Million COVID-Relief Fraud Scheme
justice.gov ^ | September 10, 2020 | Department of Justice

Posted on 09/11/2020 3:48:09 PM PDT by ransomnote

NFL Player Fraudulently Obtained $1.2 Million in Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program Loan

A National Football League (NFL) player has been charged for his alleged participation in a scheme to file fraudulent loan applications seeking more than $24 million in forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Ariana Fajardo Orshan of the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Michael J. De Palma of the IRS-Criminal Investigation (CI) Miami Field Office, Special Agent in Charge George L. Piro of FBI’s Miami Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Kevin A. Kupperbusch of the U.S. SBA-Office of Inspector General (OIG), Investigations Division, Eastern Regional Office, made the announcement.

Joshua J. Bellamy, 31, of St. Petersburg, Florida, a player in the NFL, was charged in a federal criminal complaint filed in the Southern District of Florida with wire fraud, bank fraud, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud.  Bellamy was arrested this morning and will appear today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christopher Tuite of the Middle District of Florida.

The complaint alleges that Bellamy conspired with others to obtain millions of dollars in fraudulent PPP loans.  Early in the scheme, Phillip J. Augustin allegedly obtained a fraudulent PPP loan for his talent management company using falsified documents.  After submitting that application, Augustin then began to work with other co-conspirators, including Bellamy, on a scheme to submit numerous fraudulent PPP loan applications for confederate loan applicants, in order to receive kickbacks for obtaining the forgivable loans for them. 

Bellamy is alleged to have obtained a PPP loan of $1,246,565 for his own company, Drip Entertainment LLC.  Bellamy allegedly purchased over $104,000 in luxury goods using proceeds of his PPP loan, including purchases at Dior, Gucci, and jewelers.  He is also alleged to have spent approximately $62,774 in PPP loan proceeds at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, and to have withdrawn over $302,000.  Bellamy also allegedly sought PPP loans on behalf of his family members and close associates.

The complaint alleges that the scheme involved the preparation of at least 90 fraudulent applications, most of which were submitted.  Augustin, Bellamy, and other conspirators in the scheme are alleged to have applied for PPP loans that are together worth more than $24 million dollars.  Many of those loan applications were approved and funded by financial institutions, paying out at least $17.4 million.

The other 10 defendants allegedly involved in this scheme whose complaints were previously unsealed are the following:

  • Tiara Walker, 37, of Miami Gardens, Florida, was charged in a federal criminal complaint filed on Sept. 3, 2020, in the Southern District of Florida, with wire fraud, bank fraud, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud; 
     
  • Damion O. Mckenzie, 38, of Miami Gardens, Florida, was charged in a federal criminal complaint filed on Aug. 3, 2020, in the Southern District of Florida with wire fraud, bank fraud, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud;
     
  • Andre M. Clark, 46, of Miramar, Florida, was charged in a federal criminal complaint filed on Aug. 3, 2020, in the Southern District of Florida with wire fraud, bank fraud, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud;
     
  • Keyaira Bostic, 31, of Pembroke Pines, Florida, was charged in a federal criminal complaint filed on Aug. 3, 2020, in the Southern District of Florida with wire fraud, bank fraud, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud;
     
  • Phillip J. Augustin, 51, of Coral Springs, Florida, was charged in a federal criminal complaint filed on July 28, 2020, in the Northern District of Ohio with wire fraud, bank fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud, and obstruction;
     
  • Wyleia Nashon Williams, 44, of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, was charged in a federal criminal complaint filed on July 28, 2020, in the Northern District of Ohio with wire fraud, bank fraud, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud;
     
  • James R. Stote, 54, of Hollywood, Florida, was charged in a federal criminal complaint filed on June 24, 2020, in the Northern District of Ohio with wire fraud, bank fraud, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud;
     
  • Ross Charno, 46, of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, was charged in a federal criminal complaint filed on June 24, 2020, in the Northern District of Ohio with wire fraud, bank fraud, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud;
     
  • Deon D. Levy, 50, of Bedford, Ohio, was charged in a federal complaint filed on June 8, 2020, in the Northern District of Ohio with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud; and
     
  • Abdul-Azeem Levy, 22, of Cleveland, Ohio was charged in a federal complaint filed on June 8, 2020, in the Northern District of Ohio with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

The CARES Act is a federal law enacted on March 29, 2020, designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.  One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the authorization of up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses, through the PPP.  In April 2020, Congress authorized over $300 billion in additional PPP funding.

The PPP allows qualifying small businesses and other organizations to receive loans with a maturity of two years and an interest rate of one percent.  PPP loan proceeds must be used by businesses on payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent, and utilities.  The PPP allows the interest and principal to be entirely forgiven if the business spends the loan proceeds on these expense items within a designated period of time after receiving the proceeds and uses a certain amount of the PPP loan proceeds on payroll expenses. 

A federal criminal complaint is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

This case was investigated by the IRS-CI Miami and Cincinnati Field Offices, the FBI’s Miami and Cleveland Field Offices, and the SBA-OIG.  Trial Attorney Philip Trout of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Turken for the Southern District of Florida are prosecuting the case.  The Justice Department also acknowledges and thanks the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General for their assistance investigating this matter.

Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice.  Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.

Attachment(s): 
Topic(s): 
Coronavirus
Disaster Fraud
Component(s): 
Press Release Number: 
20-913


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: bellamy; nfl
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1 posted on 09/11/2020 3:48:09 PM PDT by ransomnote
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To: ransomnote

Casn’t be true. They’re all so virtuous. Must be a mistake.


2 posted on 09/11/2020 3:52:20 PM PDT by LIConFem (I will no longer accept the things I cannot change. it's time to change the things I cannot accept)
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To: ransomnote

Black Lies Matter


3 posted on 09/11/2020 3:52:30 PM PDT by Old Yeller (Wuhan virus is the only thing ever made in China that has lasted more than 4 months.)
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To: ransomnote

NFL...NATIONAL FELON LEAGUE


4 posted on 09/11/2020 3:52:57 PM PDT by Recovering Ex-hippie (The 2020 election Trump victory determines the fate of America and Freedom.)
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To: ransomnote

What a scumbag


5 posted on 09/11/2020 3:53:20 PM PDT by Professional
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To: ransomnote

It was cloudy that day and nobody knew then what the future would bring.

6 posted on 09/11/2020 3:55:37 PM PDT by SamAdams76
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To: ransomnote

What the H is the matter with them? Do you know how many small businesses that needed only $100,000 to survive couldn’t get loans because these freaks stole this money?

OMG this makes me so mad.


7 posted on 09/11/2020 3:58:39 PM PDT by McGavin999 (Kamala tosses out race cards as fast as a Las Vegas Blackjack dealer)
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To: ransomnote

Bellamy was cut by the Jets on Tuesday.

Interesting timing.


8 posted on 09/11/2020 4:02:45 PM PDT by mewzilla (Break out the mustard seeds.)
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To: ransomnote

Tiara, Damion, Andre, Keyaira, Wyleia, Nashon, Deon, and Abdul-Azeem.

Didn’t they have a big hit in the 60s?


9 posted on 09/11/2020 4:02:56 PM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom ("And oft conducted by historic truth, We tread the long extent of backward time.")
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To: ransomnote

Sentence him to ten years of solitary, five of which to be served kneeling.

10 posted on 09/11/2020 4:11:28 PM PDT by Fightin Whitey
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To: ransomnote

Seeeeee-ittttt!

Dinndoonuffin.....


11 posted on 09/11/2020 4:13:06 PM PDT by nesnah (Liberals - the petulant children of politics)
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To: ransomnote

I hope this dude spends the rest of his life cleaning toilets and pays back every dime.


12 posted on 09/11/2020 4:13:15 PM PDT by Huskrrrr
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To: ransomnote

I wonder if his defense will be: “Just getting the reparations owed me for being a descendant of a slave”?


13 posted on 09/11/2020 4:30:57 PM PDT by GreyFriar (Spearhead - 3rd Armored Division 75-78 & 83-87)
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To: SamAdams76

Ok, I am a lifelong Rams fan, I am not sure what this pjoto is. I am going to guess that it is the 1951 championship team with Herb Rich watching as Andy Robustelli makes the interception. I have no idea other team was, as the Rams were practically the only team with helmet logos in those days. The Browns didn’t have a #87 that year, so maybe it was a 49er. The stands are pretty full.


14 posted on 09/11/2020 4:37:09 PM PDT by Dr. Sivana (There is no salvation in politics)
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To: Recovering Ex-hippie

“NFL...NATIONAL FELON LEAGUE”

Living down to their names each and every day.


15 posted on 09/11/2020 4:37:30 PM PDT by Da Coyote
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To: GreyFriar

Exactly! Entitlement...

There is nothing similar between football of the 1980’s and now. Today’s athletes are like...drug cartel types.


16 posted on 09/11/2020 4:39:01 PM PDT by Professional
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To: ransomnote
Bellamy is alleged to have obtained a PPP loan of $1,246,565 for his own company, Drip Entertainment LLC.

Big loan for a man who was never paid more than 1.05 million /year, and was usually on the edge of being cut, and getting old enough for WR that age would be an issue at 31. Of course, injuries were also an issue. For a 10 year vet, he didn't play a lot of football.

He could likely get a job coaching college ball for all his days, but I don't know what else.
17 posted on 09/11/2020 4:39:56 PM PDT by Dr. Sivana (There is no salvation in politics)
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To: ransomnote

The NFL player should have gotten himself a govt job. Then the agency he worked for would pony up a fine at taxpayer expense. All would be just fine then.


18 posted on 09/11/2020 4:41:37 PM PDT by Seruzawa (TANSTAAFL!)
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To: ransomnote

I’m surprised these morons even had enough brains to pull off a fraud like this. Oh wait.......


19 posted on 09/11/2020 4:42:28 PM PDT by slouper (LWRC SPR 5.5 6)
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Thought they were all so woke and virtuous???....makes me really want to watch the nfelonleague now...


20 posted on 09/11/2020 4:59:07 PM PDT by TnTnTn
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