Kenyatta Biafra Bellamy, 48, of Davenport, Florida, is headed to federal prison for ripping off the Social Security system to fund a lifestyle he had no right to claim. U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday slammed Bellamy with a 24-month sentence for theft of government funds, a crime rooted in lies so brazen they spanned years and crossed state lines.
Bellamy pleaded guilty on November 6, 2017, after investigators peeled back a carefully constructed web of deceit. In his 2011 application for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Bellamy swore he had no felony convictions, wasn’t on probation, rented his home, and had less than $2,000 in the bank. Every word was a lie. Court records confirm he was a convicted felon and hid substantial assets — including multiple bank accounts bursting with cash.
While pretending to live on the edge, Bellamy was raking in $2,000 monthly wire transfers from a New York firm handling pre-settlement advances. Then, in October 2014, he cashed a final settlement check for $635,249.21. Instead of reporting it, he buried the windfall, using the funds to buy residential properties in Winter Haven and Haines City, book frequent trips, and make high-dollar cash withdrawals.
Those hidden millions exposed the fraud. The Social Security Administration—Office of the Inspector General traced the deception and found Bellamy collected $40,232.34 in benefits he was legally barred from receiving. The money was meant for the truly disabled and destitute — not a man living off six-figure settlements and property investments.
Justice came down hard: in addition to 24 months behind bars, Bellamy was ordered to repay every dollar — $40,232.34 in restitution, the full amount of his theft. The court showed zero tolerance for those who exploit public programs meant to protect society’s most vulnerable.
The case was investigated by the Social Security Administration—Office of the Inspector General and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lisa M. Thelwell. It stands as a warning: fraud may seem easy until the feds start tracking your bank deposits, property deeds, and wire transfers — one by one.
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Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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