Daejon Love, arrested on federal wire fraud charges, initially claimed to have played professional basketball overseas before allegedly impersonating a San Francisco 49ers wide receiver to defraud women, according to individuals who previously played pickup basketball with him.
Love, 35, and Taylor Jamie Chan, 18, were arrested on Aug. 24 and charged with wire fraud in Portland, Oregon. Authorities allege that Love used his fabricated identity to engage women in romance and investment schemes, ultimately defrauding at least 26 women out of approximately $1.3 million.
According to Marvelous Owens, a defensive back at Northeastern State University, Love's initial fabricated story involved a career as an overseas professional basketball player. Owens recounted that Love would arrive at the gym in luxury vehicles, including a Hellcat and a Lamborghini Urus, further bolstering his claims.
"Dude talking about he played pro basketball overseas. Then he start talking about he played football. But his first lie was he played overseas basketball," Owens stated in a social media video.
Love is currently being held at the Ada County Jail in Boise, Idaho, and is expected to be transferred to Oregon. He faces one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of wire fraud. The investigation is ongoing as more alleged victims have come forward with evidence of Love's scam.