Pretty Ricky’s Baby Blue was released Tuesday after serving time in jail for a $24 million Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan scam.
As Blavity covered, on Dec. 16, 2021, Blue, whose legal name is Diamond Blue Smith, was sentenced to 20 months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
He used the money to fund his extravagant lifestyle, spending hundreds of thousands on hotels and casinos. The “Grind With Me” rapper also purchased a Ferarri with the stolen funds. Blue also “wrongfully claimed $426,717 for his business, Throwbackjersey.com LLC, by forging documents and providing fallacious information. He also applied for another PPP loan for his second company, Blue Star Records LLC, receiving an additional $708,065.”
Court documents also stated he paid James R. Stote and Phillip J. Augustin $250,000 each to assist him in completing the fraudulent actions.
The criminal enterprise forged “at least 90 fraudulent applications” and submitted a majority to the government for funds. As a result, Smith was ordered to pay $1,111,345.23 in damages and $1,134,782 in the forfeiture and serve his prison term at the Federal Correctional Institution, Coleman Low facility, in Coleman, Florida. Smith surrendered to authorities on Feb. 7, 2022.
His bandmates Pleasure P and Spectacular welcomed the newly free man home.
Pleasure P went live on his Instagram when he and Spectacular welcomed their friend home.
He spoke with friends from the beginning of the video until Blue emerged from the prison.
“There he go!”
“Baby Blue is officially outside!”
Blue walked over to a group of friends awaiting his release as Pleasure subtly wrapped up the reunion.
“We all we got! Let’s get the f**k out of here–we ain’t never coming back to this motherf**ker!”
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Shortly after his release, in a statement to The Shade Room, Blue spoke on his newly gained insight since leaving prison and revealed he is changing his name to Bigg Money Blue.
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“I met a lot of REAL n***as in the feds,” he said. “A lot of good street n***as doing time in this f**ked up system just for hustling and getting money to support they families.
“Anybody out there that got a loved one behind them walls, make sure y’all show love. Y’all all they got and that commissary expensive than a b***h!”
The 38-year-old rapper continued his statement.
“I appreciate all the love and support from my family, friends and fans! New album dropping soon! Wrote a book too! Might call that b***h ‘How To Hustle’ or ‘Blue Magic.’ Officially changing my name to BIGG MONEY BLUE! Shoutout to my n****s at Coleman Prison! I’m bout to get back to the MONEY! LET’S GO!”
He also shared that his premature release was due to the First Step Act, which former President Donald Trump introduced in 2018, allowing incarcerated people “to participate in recidivism reduction programs and earn credits towards early release.”
Spectacular was also live on Instagram while going to pick up his brother.
Viewers can watch his entire Instagram Live below.
