A Florida federal court sentenced former Jets wide receiver Josh Bellamy to 37 months in prison on Friday for illegally acquiring $1.2 million in loans meant to help struggling businesses hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to The Associated Press.
Bellamy’s sentencing comes 15 months after he was arrested for his role in a larger fraud scheme. The Jets released the receiver a day before his arrest, but had no knowledge of Bellamy’s off-field transgressions, per an ESPN report from 2020. Bellamy pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud this past June.
Court records claim Bellamy received a $1.2 million Paycheck Protection Program loan for his company, Drip Entertainment LLC, with falsified documents. He then used the money on items for himself and allegedly spent more than $100,000 of his PPP money at Dior, Gucci and jewelry stores, as well as at least $362,000 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida.
Bellamy played eight seasons in the NFL, including one year with the Jets in 2019. He only caught two receptions for 20 yards in seven games that season but also played special teams. New York placed him on the reserve/physically unable to perform list before the 2020 season and released him soon after. Bellamy spent five seasons with the Bears, one with Washington and one with the Chiefs prior to joining the Jets.
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