CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Former Bears receiver Josh Bellamy is headed to prison for fraud.
Bellamy has been sentenced to three years and one month in prison for defrauding the government of pandemic relief funds. He played for the Bears from 2014 to 2018.
Bellamy, 32, of St. Petersburg, Florida, pleaded guilty on June 9 in the Southern District of Florida to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, according to the Sun-Times. Court documents revealed Bellamy provided false documents to receive a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan of $1,246,565 for his company, Drip Entertainment LLC.
He later admitted to using the money on personal items from jewelry to hotel stays. He also admitted to paying $311,000 to an alleged co-conspirator as a kickback for his assistance in the scheme, the Sun-Times reported.
In addition to the 37-month prison sentence, Bellamy must serve three years of supervised release and pay the full amount of the loan in restitution and forfeiture.