A man identified as Daejon Labrayae Love, 35, has been charged with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud for allegedly impersonating a San Francisco 49ers player and defrauding at least 26 women out of more than $1.3 million. An alleged accomplice, 18-year-old Taylor Jamie Chan, was also arrested. Both were apprehended at an airport in Boise, Idaho, earlier this week.
The federal complaint, filed in Portland, Oregon, states that Love and Chan began their alleged scheme in February 2022. They are accused of creating fictitious investment opportunities to target women in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and California. Love reportedly initiated contact with victims through online dating apps, while Chan posed as his financial advisor to build trust and guide victims through purported investments.
According to the complaint, Love presented himself as a wealthy individual, often claiming to be a 49ers player or a real estate investor, and showcased a lavish lifestyle to deceive victims. He allegedly convinced many women they were in romantic relationships and that he was an experienced investor. Chan, as the supposed investment advisor, allegedly claimed to have helped Love amass tens of millions of dollars.
Love is accused of proposing nonexistent investment opportunities that promised significant returns for both himself and his victims. To legitimize the scheme, Love and Chan allegedly created fake bank and investment accounts with falsified balances, which they presented to victims. They also engaged in three-way FaceTime calls to display fabricated gains.
The scheme also involved victims loaning Love substantial amounts of money, with promises of quick repayment. When victims ran out of funds or began asking too many questions, Love allegedly blocked them and kept the money. To perpetuate the fraud, Love reportedly used multiple aliases, including Jon Love, Daejon Love, Avril Lyto Love, and Jordan Love.
As of the charges, none of the identified victims have seen any returns on their investments. Financial records indicate that Love and Chan received approximately $1.3 million from 26 identified victims, though the FBI believes the actual number of victims may be higher. Investigators learned that Chan was traveling from California to meet Love in Boise, where he was allegedly seeking new victims, leading to their arrests.