NFL Player Used COVID-19 Relief Loans At Hard Rock Casino & More, Feds Say

A NFL player is under investigation after allegedly spending COVID-19 pandemic relief money on personal expenses, Local 10 reported last Thursday (September 10).

Josh Bellamy, a former New York Jets wide receiver, was arrested for filing a fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) application. According to Local 10, Bellamy allegedly received $1.2 million for his company, Drip Entertainment.

The former player spent over $62,000 of the loan at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida, investigators said. They also allege Bellamy bought $104,000 worth of luxury goods.

"He has been charged in South Florida federal court with wire and bank fraud in addition to conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud. Bellamy is accused of trying to get PPP loans for family members and associates," Local 10 reported.

The PPP loans are meant to help struggling businesses and their employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. The federal government distributed the money as part of the the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act in late March.

Bellamy was released from the New York Jets' physically unable-to-perform list last Tuesday (September 8), according to ESPN. The organization was not aware of the arrest nor the crime at the time of release.

The former Jets player is among other people allegedly involved in the fraudulent application scheme, where over $24 million in relief money was distributed. So far, 11 people, including Bellamy, were charged in the operation, and eight of them are from South Florida.

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