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Alleged NFL Scammer Found Dead in Pool at NJ Mansion
Alleged Scammer Who Targeted NFL Players Found Dead in New Jersey Pool
What Happened?
A 24-year-old man named Mohamed Coulibaly was found dead in a swimming pool at a home in Harrison Township, New Jersey. Police discovered his body on Friday while doing a welfare check after family members said they were worried about him.
Coulibaly was the alleged mastermind behind a million-dollar scam that targeted former NFL players and other athletes.
How the Scam Worked (Explained Simply)
Think of it like a fake lemonade stand.
Imagine someone shows you a notebook saying, "Look! We sold 500 cups of lemonade today!" You think, "Wow, this stand makes lots of money!" So you invest your savings. But actually… they just wrote fake numbers in the notebook. No lemonade was ever sold.
Here’s what investigators say Coulibaly did:
- Created fake online stores (on Shopify, a platform where people build web shops)
- Manually typed in fake sales numbers in the backend (the control panel only owners can see)
- Showed these fake numbers to athletes to make the stores look successful
- Convinced athletes to invest money to buy a "stake" (a piece) of these stores
- Never paid them back — the stores weren’t real businesses at all
Who Were the Victims?
| Victim | Background | Amount Lost |
|---|---|---|
| Tae Crowder | Former New York Giants linebacker | $500,000 (his entire life savings) |
| Two other former NFL players | Not publicly named | Combined over $500,000 |
| Total | Three former NFL players | Over $1 million |
Tae Crowder’s Story
Tae Crowder met Coulibaly through a mutual friend. He saw Coulibaly hanging out with other people he knew and trusted, which made him feel safe.
"We was just, every day, talking about different investments… I saw him hanging out with a bunch of different guys that I know, which you know made me feel comfortable." — Tae Crowder
Crowder invested all $500,000 of his savings into one of Coulibaly’s fake stores. He checked the store dashboard often and saw the "sales numbers" going up — but those numbers were manually entered by Coulibaly, not real customers buying things.
When Crowder asked for his money back, Coulibaly always had a new excuse. Eventually, Crowder realized he had been scammed.
"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." — Tae Crowder
What Coulibaly Said in His Defense
Before his death, Coulibaly spoke to Barron’s magazine and denied everything. He claimed:
- The reporting was based on a "misunderstanding of the technology"
- He hadn’t paid investors because he himself hadn’t received money from a planned business acquisition (a deal to sell his company)
- He insisted it wasn’t a scam — just a business deal that fell through
Where Things Stand Now
- Coulibaly is deceased (cause of death under investigation)
- No criminal charges were ever filed against him while he was alive
- Victims are still seeking justice and resolution
- Police are investigating his death (standard procedure for unexpected deaths)
Important Lessons to Remember
IMPORTANT: Protect Yourself from Investment Scams
- Never invest money you can’t afford to lose — especially not your life savings
- Verify independently — don’t just trust screenshots or dashboards someone shows you
- Be wary of "guaranteed returns" or "too good to be true" opportunities
- Talk to a licensed financial advisor before making big investments
- Trust your gut — if someone always has excuses, that’s a red flag
Summary
- Mohamed Coulibaly, 24, was found dead in a NJ pool during a welfare check.
- He was accused of running a fake e-commerce investment scam targeting former NFL players.
- The scam involved manually faking sales data on Shopify stores to trick athletes into investing.
- Three former NFL players lost over $1 million total — including Tae Crowder, who lost his entire $500K savings.
- Coulibaly denied the allegations, blaming a failed business deal.
- No charges were filed before his death, and the investigation into both the scam and his death continues.
FAQ
What is Shopify, and how was it used in the scam?
Shopify is a popular tool that lets anyone create an online store. Coulibaly used it to build fake stores, then typed in fake sales numbers in the private admin area so investors would think the stores were making money.
Why did the athletes trust Coulibaly?
He socialized with people they knew, creating a false sense of trust. This is called "affinity fraud" — scammers exploit shared connections (like sports teams, churches, or communities) to lower victims’ guard.
Can the victims get their money back now that Coulibaly is dead?
It’s very difficult. Since no charges were filed and he has passed away, recovering funds would require finding assets in his estate — if any exist. Civil lawsuits are possible but complex.
Was this only targeting NFL players?
The Barron’s investigation focused on former NFL players, but scams like this often target many groups — athletes, retirees, young professionals, etc. The tactics are the same.
How can I spot a fake investment opportunity?
Look for:
Pressure to act fast
No verifiable track record
Returns that seem too consistent or high
Excuses when you ask for withdrawals
Unlicensed or unregistered sellers
→ Always check with the SEC or your state’s securities regulator.
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