NFL Players Lost Millions to Alleged Fraudster Found Dead
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- Mohamed Coulibaly, 23, ran Motion Venture and was found dead in a swimming pool at his Harrison Township, NJ home on July 31 after a family-requested welfare check, with the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office telling ESPN it has "nothing to release."
- Tae Crowder (ex-Giants), Matt Breida (former NFL running back), and a third anonymous ex-player said they invested $500,000, $250,000, and $675,000 respectively in escrow deals that never paid out, with Crowder saying the loss "effectively" wiped him out.
- A Feb. 23 SEC whistleblower complaint by fraud investigator Barry Minkow alleged the scheme promised a $100 million buyout from Middle Eastern venture partners, but that group told ESPN it had never heard of Coulibaly.
- The November 2025 pitch deck listed Philadelphia Eagles players, Seahawks GM John Schneider, former NBA All-Star John Wall, and rappers YG and Tee Grizzley as notable clients; a Seahawks spokesperson confirmed Schneider invested and lost money, while Wall's representatives declined comment.
- Former Arizona Cardinals GM Steve Keim, listed as Motion Venture's chief operation/growth officer, said he took a seven-figure loss and was "a victim" whose name was used to "legitimize" the business.
- A Shopify expert determined there was no evidence of legitimate revenue "to sustain the returns being promised," according to the SEC complaint.
- Crowder met with federal investigators in recent weeks before Coulibaly's death, and Crowder's attorney said claims could still be filed against Coulibaly's estate.
Why it matters: At least three former NFL players say they lost between $250,000 and $675,000 each in escrow deals that never paid out, and with Coulibaly dead and federal authorities declining to confirm any criminal case, victims' only remaining avenue may be civil claims against his estate. The pitch deck's use of recognizable sports figures — including Eagles players, an active NFL GM, and an NBA All-Star — illustrates how alleged schemes recruit professional athletes through social proof rather than verifiable financials.
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