Josh Bellamy handed three-year prison sentence for COVID relief fraud

Former NFL wide receiver Josh Bellamy has been handed a three-year prison sentence for his participation in a COVID-19 relief fraud scheme.

Bellamy was initially arrested in September 2020 after taking out a $1.2m (£906.6k) Paycheck Protection Program loan using false documents.

The PPP forms part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act in the USA, which aims to provide small business loans to those who have lost money due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bellamy's company Drip Entertainment LLC received the loan from the PPP in May 2020, but he admitted spending the money for personal items and hotel stays.

After pleading guilty to committing wire fraud in June, Bellamy was sentenced to three years and one month behind bars during a Tampa federal court hearing earlier this month.

The 32-year-old posted 78 receptions for 1,019 yards during his time in the NFL with the Chicago Bears, San Diego Chargers, Washington Redskins, Kansas City Chiefs and New York Jets before being released by the latter in 2020.