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Multiple former NFL players and others say they will continue trying to recoup their losses — in some cases more than $1 million — after the death of a man they say defrauded them in complicated, multi-layered financial transactions now under investigation by federal authorities.
Three ex-NFL players, as well as some non-athletes, told ESPN they lost the money they invested with Motion Venture, a company run by New Jersey resident Mohamed Coulibaly, 23, who was found dead July 31.
In some individual investors’ cases, losses exceeded $1 million. Tae Crowder, a former New York Giants linebacker who played in the United Football League last season, told ESPN he lost at least $500,000 — effectively wiping him out. He provided corroborating evidence of wire payments he made to Coulibaly’s company.
Former New York Giants linebacker Tae Crowder is among the players who say they were victims of an investment scheme allegedly run by a man who turned up dead last month. Robert Deutsch/USA Today SportsThe financial allegations were laid out in a Feb. 23 complaint, obtained by ESPN, to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Office of the Whistleblower, the FBI and Pennsylvania banking regulators. The sworn complaint was filed by Barry Minkow, who served prison time for fraud and now works to uncover financial crimes. He stated he was hired by three Coulibaly investors.According to the complaint, which refers to the company as Vent Motion LLC, Coulibaly offered investors to put their money into Shopify e-commerce stores. Once they received their initial investments back, investors were encouraged to pool their money in more Shopify stores in hopes of building the company’s value to a level of at least $100 million, at which time a group of Middle Eastern venture partners would buy them out for a huge payday.If all conditions were met, the complaint alleged, Coulibaly would divide the profits between himself and the investors.Reached by ESPN, the listed venture partner group stated it had never heard of Coulibaly.The allegations were first declared July 15 by Barron’s. Coulibaly subsequently told the New York Post that he would “strongly dispute a number of the factual assertions and characterizations contained in the article.”About two weeks later, officers went to a home in Harrison Township, N.J., after his family requested a welfare check and found him dead in a swimming pool, according to police. A spokesperson for the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office told ESPN on Friday, “We have nothing to release on this case.”ESPN was unable to confirm the existence of any lawsuits or criminal cases related to the Coulibaly allegations. Federal authorities could not be reached or declined comment to ESPN about any ongoing investigation.With Coulibaly’s death, it’s not clear if those who say they were scammed have any avenue for reclaiming their investments, but the former NFL players and other investors say they will press forward for answers. And Crowder’s attorney stated that, although Coulibaly is dead, claims could be filed against his estate.Crowder told ESPN he met with federal investigators in recent weeks, before Coulibaly’s death. Crowder’s attorney confirmed the meeting. According to the SEC complaint, Motion Venture offered two types of deals: Fully managed Shopify e-commerce stores, or a “larger pooled ‘escrow’ structure” offering a faster path to returns. Crowder, former NFL running back Matt Breida and a third ex-NFL player who spoke on condition of anonymity stated they initially invested in Shopify stores and received at least some financial returns that they reinvested.
All three stated they also invested in the escrow deal. Breida put in $250,000, Crowder $500,000 and the third ex-player $675,000, according to the SEC complaint and contracts reviewed by ESPN. None received money back despite contractual language guaranteeing payment of at least their initial investments after a certain number of months, the documents stated.
All three players stated they repeatedly asked Coulibaly for payouts once contracts came due, and he cited delays involving banks and money holds, promising to pay them. Crowder stated he sent Coulibaly a demand for payment through a lawyer in May.
“Every time we talked to him, it’s the same thing,” Breida told ESPN. “This is the reason why. The bank. We’re waiting on the people from overseas. So it gets to a point where it’s like, OK, it’s not going nowhere.”
Crowder stated he invested — despite concerns from his financial adviser — because of some names, including several Philadelphia Eagles, who were listed on Motion Venture’s pitch presentation.
“I just seen a lot of different names on there that were legit,” Crowder stated. “People, NFL players, different players. And I was like, all right, it’s got to be legit, you know.”
“I wish I put my money somewhere else … instead of looking for a quicker investment.”
The November 2025 pitch deck included a list of “notable clients & partners.” In addition to the Eagles and other NFL players, it listed Seattle Seahawks general manager and president of football operations John Schneider, NBA players including former All-Star John Wall, pro soccer players and entertainers YG and Tee Grizzley.
Aside from Schneider, who a Seahawks spokesperson confirmed had invested in the company and lost money, it’s not clear if any others listed were aware of their names being used or were actual investors. Representatives for most of those listed in the pitch did not return messages from ESPN. Representatives for Wall and Grizzley declined comment.
“It kind of felt like you were getting let in behind the velvet rope to be a part of this,” stated a non-athlete investor who stated they lost their investment and spoke on the condition of anonymity. “Like, oh wow, I’m getting access to this that all these influential, exciting rich people have access to.”
Motion Venture pitched itself as “a turnkey, data-driven system for building high-profit online stores.” The SEC complaint, however, stated a Shopify expert determined there was no evidence of legitimate revenue to “sustain the returns being promised.”
The Seahawks spokesperson told ESPN Schneider, who declined comment, was introduced to the investment opportunity by Steve Keim, former general manager of the Arizona Cardinals and Klutch Sports.
The November 2025 pitch deck listed Keim as Motion Venture’s chief operation/growth officer and stated he “leads strategic growth initiatives … building partnerships, expanding market reach, and helping shape long-term business direction.” Keim’s job description also mentioned “managing large budgets” and “navigating high-stakes decision-making.”
Keim told ESPN that he worked with Coulibaly and promoted the company to friends and family because he believed in it and kept rolling profits from his own Shopify investments.
Keim stated he never received a salary or insurance and took an eventual seven-figure loss in his Shopify store investment. “I’ve not been compensated. So not only has my name been used, I’m a victim,” he stated.
In his complaint letter to the SEC, Minkow wrote that his investigation found “no evidence from my client investor victims that they relied on Mr. Keim or any representation made by him to induce investment. In my view, he like perhaps John Schneider … are victim investors.”
Keim stated Coulibaly used him to “legitimize his business.” He stated he had no access to funds or bank accounts other than what Coulibaly showed him, and that he eventually questioned if Motion Venture was legitimate.
Days before Coulibaly’s death, Keim stated, he traveled to Philadelphia to meet with bankers regarding the company. He stated he met with one banker, but another declined to meet because Keim’s name wasn’t on the accounts.
Keim stated Coulibaly provided him with financial statements, and he confronted Coulibaly about possibly being scammed. Keim stated he relayed his findings to investors, was apologetic and hoped they all got their money back.
Keim stated he told players who contacted him to reach out to Coulibaly. He stated he did not personally bring any players into the investment. Asked if he brought in Schneider’s investment, Keim stated, “I’ll let him answer if he did any business with me.”
A GoFundMe campaign to help with Coulibaly’s funeral expenses was taken down in recent days. A GoFundMe spokesperson told ESPN “the fundraiser organizer turned off donations.”
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