Buffalo Actor Considered ‘COVID Scammer’ After Involvement in Scheme

Credit: WGRZ

Enter your number to get our free mobile app

Joseph Bella, a Buffalo actor, has been accused in federal charges of being a 'COVID scammer.' On April 23, 2020, federal agents served a search warrant at Bella's home in Buffalo, according to Justice.gov. During the search, Special Agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Buffalo Police Department seized cocaine, marijuana, MDMA, other drug paraphernalia, a shotgun and ammo from the home.

According to WGRZ, it was during Bella's detention hearing that the COVID-19 scheme was outlined,

Assistant US Attorney Joseph Tripi described how Bella’s company Med-Cor allegedly bought COVID test processing materials and resold them as home testing kits. Tripi explaining the kits would be useless outside of a lab.

It's not clear if Bella's company will be shutdown due to the scam. A quick Google search shows that Med-Cor still seems to be active, but its website describes it as a medical staffing company. Looking at the company's Facebook page, it has posted as recently as January 1, 2021. Bella's email address is listed as the primary contact on the page.

Bella has appeared in the film 'Givers of Death,' according to his IMDb bio,

Joe was cast as "Cuz" in a supporting role in the upcoming "Givers of Death" (currently in post-production) with Addison Henderson and has been directed under Chadwick Bosman. Joe is currently writing for a series in development "Unmakeable" while pursuing select roles that will utilize his unique presence and abilities.

Credit: Night Owl Republic Films Republic via Youtube

African-Americans Skeptical About COVID-19 Vaccine

While we're on the subject of COVID-19, I was reading a story DJ Hassan wrote about G-Health employees' experience with getting the COVID-19 vaccine. It's good to hear from healthcare workers, who are in our community, about their experience with getting the vaccine. There has been lots of skepticism in the African-American community about getting the vaccine, which I completely understand. Our history in the United States, with the medical community, vaccines and being the subject of experiments, is horrific. Hopefully, checking out what Dr. Vaquez said about the vaccine, will give you some comfort.