Investigation Underway After Death of Alleged NFL Scam Leader Mohamed Coulibaly

By the Editorial Team · Friday, August 7, 2026

Mohamed Coulibaly, accused of running a fraudulent e-commerce scheme that deceived former NFL players into investing millions, was found dead in a New Jersey swimming pool amid an ongoing investigation. The scam involved faking sales data to lure high-profile athletes, leading to significant financial losses and prompting continued law enforcement scrutiny.

Authorities are investigating the death of Mohamed Coulibaly, a 24-year-old accused of orchestrating a fraudulent e-commerce scheme targeting former NFL players. Coulibaly was found dead in a swimming pool at a residence in Harrison Township, New Jersey, on Friday following a welfare check prompted by concerns for his well-being.

The investigation into Coulibaly’s activities gained renewed attention after a detailed report released in mid-July identified him as the ringleader of a scam that convinced professional athletes to purchase stakes in purported Shopify-based online stores. These stores reportedly generated falsified sales figures to lure investors, many of whom were retired or current sports figures.

Among those allegedly defrauded was former New York Giants linebacker Tae Crowder, who reportedly lost his entire savings, approximately $500,000, on one of the fake ventures after being introduced to Coulibaly through a mutual acquaintance. Crowder, drafted in 2020 and with tenure through the 2022 season, is one of several former NFL players claiming financial losses linked to Coulibaly’s operation.

Additional individuals identified as victims include Eagles players Nakobe Dean and Jalen Carter, Las Vegas Raiders safety Terrell Edmunds, rapper YG, and U.S. men’s national soccer team defender Mark McKenzie. Three former NFL players have collectively reported losing over $1 million in investments connected to the scheme.

According to the investigation, the alleged scam involved presenting investors with fabricated sales logs, which were manually entered on the backend of the e-commerce platforms to simulate legitimate business activity. This practice duped athletes into believing the online stores were generating genuine revenue, encouraging further financial contributions.

Law enforcement agencies are continuing their inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Coulibaly’s death and the wider scope of the fraudulent operation. No announcements have been made regarding any additional arrests or charges related to the case.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.