Federal authorities arrested rapper Nuke Bizzle after he appeared in a music video flashing stacks of cash and bragging about defrauding the federal government to obtain unemployment benefits.
“I just got rich off of EDD/ I just woke up to 300 Gs,” he bragged. “Unemployment so sweet/ We had 1.5 land this week.” Rapper Fat Wizza added: “You gotta sell cocaine, I can just file a claim.”
Bizzle, whose real name is Fontrell Antonio Baines, is accused of stealing more than $1.2 million in unemployment benefits preloaded on 92 debit cards from the Employment Development Department (EDD).
The hip-hop artist was arrested Friday and charged with access advice fraud, aggravated identity theft, and interstate transportation of stolen property.
According to a criminal complaint, Baines, who lives in the Hollywood Hills, was arrested in Las Vegas while riding in a Cadillac Escalade. He was detained with 7 EDD debit cards in other people’s names.
According to the complaint, Baines filed claims for 92 EDD debit cards preloaded with more than $1.2 million in other people’s names. The cards were mailed to multiple addresses that Baines had access to.
Baines posted a disclaimer under his “EDD” music video on YouTube: “This video was created with props and was made for entertainment purposes.”
