Pretty Ricky member “Baby Blue” was apprehended on Monday for allegedly stealing coronavirus relief money in order to buy luxury goods, such as a $96,000 Ferrari.
According to Complex, the Love & Hip Hop Miami star, whose real name is Diamond Blue Smith, and his co-conspirator Tonye C. Johnson were both arrested for their involvement in a $24 million COVID-19 relief fraud scam.
As a result, according to a press release, the two are facing charges of wire fraud, bank fraud, and conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud. Authorities seized the Ferrari during Smith’s arrest.
Government officials claim that Smith acquired the money for the Ferrari by falsifying documents for a Paycheck Protection Program loan, which was intended to help qualifying small businesses during the onset of the pandemic, which also came as part of the $2 trillion CARES Act.
Smith is accused of pilfering just under $427,000. He also allegedly falsified documents for another loan that was worth nearly $1 million.
After an extensive FBI investigation, it was determined that Smith participated in a bigger scam in which he persuaded others to file for funds in order to receive kickbacks. Smith, Johnson, and another 11 unnamed defendants are involved in that case.
