NFL free agent veteran wide receiver Josh Bellamy is being charged with fraud by the Southern District of Florida in an alleged scheme relating to filing COVID-19 loan applications, according to the United States Department of Justice.
Bellamy, 31, is accused by joint cooperation in a federal investigation by the FBI, IRS, and Justice Department of fraudulent applications for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, a program established during the coronavirus pandemic by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
NFL Player Charged for Role in $24 Million COVID-Relief Fraud Scheme https://t.co/ppnf4OTrPh
— Justice Department (@TheJusticeDept) September 10, 2020
The New York Jets had previously placed Bellamy on the reserve/Physically Unable to Play (PUP) list back in May 2020 and the former undrafted free agent receiver was released just two days ago. It is unknown at this time if the Jets' release of Bellamy was with the knowledge of an impending lawsuit in the Southern District of Florida for federal crimes.
Josh Bellamy entered the NFL out of Louisville by playing for three franchises as an undrafted wideout before landing for several years with the Chicago Bears. As a free agent in 2019, Bellamy signed with the Jets following five years with the Bears, only appearing in seven games last season with Gang Green.
The Justice Department claims to have arrested Bellamy, a St. Petersburg, Florida resident, on Thursday morning and later plans to appear in a Florida court. Bellamy is being charged with wire fraud, bank fraud, and “conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud.” These federal crimes appear to be stacked against the NFL veteran with many resources pitted against Bellamy as he begins an uphill legal battle.
Read the Justice Department's statement on Bellamy's alleged fraud scheme.
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