An investigation has been launched into the death of Mohamed Coulibaly, 24, who was identified as the alleged mastermind of a million-dollar scam targeting sports stars. Coulibaly's body was discovered in a swimming pool at a home in Harrison Township, New Jersey, according to reports.
Police officers visited the residence after family members expressed concerns about Coulibaly, ABC reported. Just last month, Coulibaly, from Philadelphia, was named by Barron's as the organizer of an alleged scheme that sought to lure former NFL players and other athletes into purchasing stakes in "bogus websites."
Barron's reported that Coulibaly allegedly intended for athletes to believe they were investing in successful businesses. However, three former NFL players claimed to have collectively lost more than $1 million. Among the alleged victims was former New York Giants linebacker Tae Crowder, who reportedly invested $500,000, his life savings, into one of Coulibaly's ventures.
"We were just, every day, talking about different investments and different things we could possibly get into," Crowder recalled, per ABC. "I saw him hanging out with a bunch of different guys that I know, which you know made me feel comfortable." Crowder added that he regularly logged into the store associated with the investment, observing the number of investments increase.
Crowder stated that he never saw a return on his investment and expressed a desire for others not to become involved in similar situations. "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," he said.
According to Barron's, Coulibaly had claimed that investors had not received any money because he himself was still awaiting funds. At the time of his death, ABC reported, no criminal charges had been filed in connection with the alleged scheme. Coulibaly had previously told Barron's that he immigrated to the U.S. as a child with his Malian family.
A GoFundMe page, purportedly created by Coulibaly's brother, Badra, has raised nearly $13,000 to support efforts to bring him home for burial.