Former New York Giants linebacker Tae Crowder told ESPN he lost at least $500,000 in an alleged investment fraud scheme that effectively wiped him out financially.
Crowder, the final pick of the 2020 NFL draft who played for the Giants from 2020 to 2022 before brief stints elsewhere and a recent season in the United Football League, provided evidence of wire transfers to Motion Venture.
"I just seen a lot of different names on there that were legit," Crowder said. "People, NFL players, different players. And I was like, all right, it's got to be legit, you know."
"I wish I put my money somewhere else ... instead of looking for a quicker investment."
The company was run by 23-year-old New Jersey resident Mohamed Coulibaly, who was found dead in a swimming
pool on July 31 following a welfare check. Multiple former NFL players and other investors say they are still seeking to recover losses, some exceeding $1 million, after investing in Coulibaly’s e-commerce operations on the Shopify platform.
Investors were later encouraged to pool funds into larger structures promising substantial returns from purported Middle Eastern venture partners, who denied any connection when contacted.
Crowder, former Giants running back Matt Breida and another ex-player invested hundreds of thousands in an escrow-style deal that contractually guaranteed repayment of principal after a set period. None received the money.
"Every time we talked to him, it's the same thing," Breida told ESPN. "'This is the reason why. The bank. We're waiting on the people from overseas.' So it gets to a point where it's like, OK, it's not going nowhere."
Crowder said he met with federal investigators before Coulibaly’s death and sent a formal demand for payment in May. His attorney noted that claims may still be pursued against the estate.
A February complaint outlining the allegations was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and other authorities.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Ex-New York Giants LB Tae Crowder lost $500K to alleged fraudster
