Ex-NFL player Joshua Bellamy sentenced to 3 years for PPP fraud

Dec. 11 (UPI) -- A federal judge in Florida has sentenced former NFL player Joshua Bellamy to three years in prison for fraudulently taking $1.2 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds.

In addition to the prison sentence, Bellamy, 32, was ordered Friday to serve three years of supervised release, pay $1.2 million in restitution and forfeit $1.2 million. He pleaded guilty in June to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

The Justice Department said Bellamy fraudulently obtained a Paycheck Protection Program loan for his company Drip Entertainment LLC using false information. He told authorities he used the money on personal items including jewelry and a stay at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Davie, Fla.

Bellamy said he paid $311,000 as a kickback to an accused co-conspirator, James Stote, who allegedly helped him secure the PPP loan. Stote has been charged with wire fraud, bank fraud, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud.

Read more: https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2021/12/11/Joshua-Bellamy-PPP-fraud/8411639234868/