Nuke Bizzle: Rapper Who Sang Song About Living on Benefits, Accused of Running Scam

Nuke Bizzle aka Fontrell Baines is the rapper who was arrested in October 2020 and accused of running a government benefits scam.

A statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Southern California on October 16 said Baines, 31, was facing charges of illegally gaining unemployment benefits through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).

The press release said that Baines is a native of Memphis, Tennessee, but now lives in the Hollywood Hills in California. If convicted on all charges, including access device fraud, aggravated identity theft, and interstate transportation of stolen property, Baines could face up to 22 years in prison.

Baines is accused of exploiting the government program through stolen identities of persons in the Koreatown and Beverly Hills neighborhoods in Los Angeles. Investigators say that Baines and others accessed $704,000 in cash withdrawals using government-issued debit cards. In total, Baines had access to 92 different unemployment debit cards, the press release said. One cash withdrawal took place in Las Vegas, according to investigators. Baines was arrested in the city on September 23 and was in possession of eight unemployment debit cards, the statement says.

Investigators Says that Baines Bragged About His Alleged Fraud on the Song, ‘EDD’

Nuke Bizzle Ft. Fat Wizza – EDD (Official Music Video)***THIS VIDEO WAS CREATED WITH PROPS AND WAS MADE FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES*** Watch the official music video for Nuke Bizzle and Fat Wizza’s, “EDD” Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nukebizzle1/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swizzimatic/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fiskawizza/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4Ga9x… Apple: https://music.apple.com/in/artist/nuk…2020-09-12T01:09:18Z

The last section of the press release is dedicated to accusing Baines of bragging about committing benefits fraud in a song titled “EDD.” EDD is the initials of the Employment Development Department in California.

In the video for the song, Baines says at he does “My swagger for EDD.” When holding up a bunch of envelopes from the department, Baines said, “Go[ing] to the bank with a stack of these.” The press release says the lyrics are “presumably a reference to the debit cards that come in the mail. A second rapper in the video intones, “You gotta sell cocaine, I just file a claim….””

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