Man at the Center of an Alleged NFL Player Scam is Found Dead, Here’s What We Know

The money trail connected to an alleged million-dollar sports scheme was supposed to lead to answers and accountability. Instead, the story ended in tragedy after one man at the center of shocking allegations was found dead.

Mohamed Coulibaly was accused of running an elaborate online investment scheme that allegedly targeted former NFL players, according to a Barron’s investigation. But this week, his body was found floating in a backyard pool in New Jersey, and investigators are still searching for answers.

According to Barron’s, Coulibaly allegedly convinced at least three former professional football players to invest in what appeared to be legitimate online businesses. The plan reportedly involved Shopify storefronts that appeared successful on paper, complete with sales numbers, financial records and promises of passive income. Soon, however, investigators and attorneys representing some former players alleged that those numbers were manipulated and that the businesses were not producing the returns investors expected.

Now, as police continue to investigate the death, more questions are swirling around the alleged scheme and the man some claim is responsible. No criminal charges have been filed in connection with the alleged NFL scheme. Still, former players have spoken out about what they lost.

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“I don’t want anybody else to get involved in anything like this, and whoever has got involved, I just want to come together and make it right,” former New York Giants linebacker Tae Crowder told ABC 7 News. He reportedly invested his entire savings of $500,000 into one of Coulibaly’s web stores. Crowder never received a payout.

The allegations struck a familiar nerve in the world of professional sports. It’s no secret that many athletes who spend years building wealth on the field become financial targets once they retire. The fame that creates opportunity can also create vulnerability, especially in a world where trust, access and reputation can be used as selling points.

Things came to a head after the July 15 report from Barron’s exposed 24-year-old Coulibaly as the alleged mastermind behind it all. But what began as a story about deception and wealth turned into a tragic mystery after he was found dead by police during a welfare check. According to ABC 7 News, Coulibaly’s family requested the welfare check after becoming concerned over his well-being.

Now, Coulibaly’s death has changed the investigation. Authorities have not publicly established a cause or manner of death, and the allegations against Coulibaly remain allegations. Without a trial, many questions surrounding the alleged scheme may never be answered in a courtroom.