A fake NFL football player and his supposed financial advisor have been arrested after being accused of turning online romance into a million-dollar scam.
The FBI arrested Daejon Labrayae Love and 18-year-old Taylor Jamie Chan at Boise Airport in Idaho on August 24 after the 35 year old posed as a San Francisco 49ers player while allegedly running a fraud scheme that scammed dozens of women out of about $1.3 million.
The Alleged Fraud
As reported on Monday’s AM Update, federal prosecutors in Oregon have charged Love and Chan with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud after investigators identified 26 alleged victims across California, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon in a scheme stretching back to February 2022.
Love allegedly found women through dating apps and social media and then convinced them to send money for investments to him or Chan, whom he introduced as his financial advisor.
Love presented himself online as a wealthy 49ers wide receiver, publicly posting photos and videos of himself dressed in team gear and pretending to train, along with posts allegedly stolen from real NFL players and presented as his own.
An affidavit submitted by an FBI agent detailed more than $1,100 in purchases from a custom football helmet company, plus purchases from businesses selling realistic fake cash and social media followers, likes, and views. Investigators described those purchases as part of an effort to make his invented lifestyle look legitimate.
The Fake Football Story
OutKick obtained a video in late 2024 that appeared to show Love signing what he represented to be an NFL contract. When the cameraman asked Love who he was signing with, he responded, “Niners, you already know, Niner gang.”
OutKick reported it did not publish a story at the time because we could not independently verify Love’s claimed NFL affiliation and had no evidence that he had sought or received money from women.
Both the NFL and the 49ers reportedly told investigators Love had never been employed by either organization. The affidavit described other identities Love allegedly used, including saying he was related to Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love. He also allegedly told some women he was a real estate investor from a wealthy Swiss family.
Unsuspecting Victims
Prosecutors allege Love pursued romantic relationships with many of the women, promising they could build wealth and a future together. He was believed to be using phone apps to fabricate bank balances and investment accounts, making it appear he had the fortune to back up those promises.
One alleged victim reportedly lost more than $87,000 and only uncovered the deception after nearly a year of dating Love. Another woman described threats when she resisted, alleging Love said he would physically hurt her if she didn’t give him money in her savings.
According to the affidavit, Love’s fabricated social media presence led search engines and artificial intelligence to occasionally identify him as a legitimate 49ers player. Investigators searched his name themselves in January and reported that some results repeated the false claim. His financial records, meanwhile, told another story. Investigators found no identifiable legitimate source of income.
At the time of his arrest, investigators said Love was in Idaho to meet new targets. The FBI believes there are more victims and is urging anyone who may have been caught in the alleged scheme to come forward.
Legal Analysis
On Tuesday’s Megyn Kelly Show, Megyn was joined by attorneys Mark Eiglarsh and Jonna Spilbor, hosts of Positively Legal on MK True Crime, to discuss the alleged fraud and why it serves as a cautionary tale.
You can check out Megyn’s full interview with Eiglarsh and Spilbor by tuning in to episode 1,389 on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you like to listen. And don’t forget that you can catch The Megyn Kelly Show live on SiriusXM’s The Megyn Kelly Channel (channel 111) weekdays from 12pm to 2pm ET.