Love & Hip Hop Atlanta has been a popular staple on VH1 for many years. However, over the course of its nine-season run, a few of the reality show’s cast have been embroiled in one controversy or another. Last year, Grammy-nominated rapper and series star Remy Ma was arrested for allegedly punching another cast member. Now, former Love & Hip Hop Atlanta star Maurice “Mo” Fayne — whose rapper name is Arkansas Mo — has been arrested and charged for allegedly taking out a pandemic-related loan and using it to buy jewelry, among other things.
The U.S. Department of Justice has officially charged Maurice Fayne with federal bank fraud. The rapper reportedly acquired a $2 million Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan under the Georgia business called Flame Trucking. Fayne allegedly claimed that the money was for payroll. According to authorities (via THR), Fayne allegedly spent most of the loan on himself. $1.5 million of the federal funds were reportedly spent on several pieces of jewelry, which included a 5.73 carat diamond ring and a Rolex Presidential watch for himself. Fayne is also reported to have spent $40,000 in child support payments.
Maurice Fayne made his court appearance on Wednesday, May 13 and initially denied the allegations made against him. When federal agents searched his home, they allegedly seized around $80,000 in cash, including the $9,400 reportedly found in Fayne’s own pockets, jewelry, a 2019 Rolls-Royce. What's more, an estimated $503,000 of the PPP loan money was also reportedly seized.
The PPP is a government relief program set up to aid employees and small businesses who have been hit financially because of the recent health crisis. Read the statement made by Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski below:
The defendant allegedly stole money meant to assist hard-hit employees and businesses during these difficult times, and instead greedily used the money to bankroll his lavish purchases of jewelry and other personal items. The department will remain steadfast in our efforts to root out and prosecute frauds against the Paycheck Protection Program.
Maurice Fayne appeared in nine episodes of Love & Hip Hop Atlanta in Season 8. Most of the season was spent focusing on the ups and downs of his relationship with then-wife Karlie Redd. Season 8 documented their ongoing struggles, which included counseling sessions. However, their relationship took a turn for the worse when Karlie discovered that Fayne had a child with another woman. She later alleged that Fayne was controlling and abusive, and the pair have since broken up. Fayne has not appeared in Season 9 of the reality show.
Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for updates. The Season 9 midseason finale of Love & Hip Hop Atlanta aired on May 11, and VH1 has postponed all future episodes indefinitely due to Hollywood-wide production shutdowns.
