Two men have been charged with wire fraud following an elaborate scheme in which they allegedly impersonated a professional football player and his financial advisor. Daejon Labrayae Love, 35, and Taylor Jamie Chan, 18, are accused of defrauding over two dozen women out of more than £1 million through false investment opportunities.
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Prosecutors from the Department of Justice outlined that between them, the men managed to connive around £1.3 million from at least 26 victims over a period of four years. The scheme included fraudulent investment offers, and it was sophisticated enough to involve the use of dating apps where Love allegedly convinced women he was a wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers or a successful real estate investor from Switzerland. Chan purportedly acted as his financial advisor in this deceitful operation.
Authorities announced their arrests, which took place at the Boise Airport in Idaho on 24 August. Reports indicate Love was found in possession of $3,000 and a San Francisco 49ers helmet at the time of his apprehension. The investigation into their activities revealed that Love shared videos and photographs on social media showcasing himself in team merchandise and luxury cars. He even purportedly claimed to have connections with prominent NFL players including Antonio Brown and Tyreek Hill.
Through this elaborate ruse, Love presented a glamorous lifestyle to gain the trust of his victims. The materials reviewed by the prosecutors included posts on social media that highlighted his purported wealth and social status, further bolstered by advanced online techniques such as search engine optimization. These tactics helped him craft a believable persona that lured women into investing money.
Once the women had engaged, Love would encourage them to invest further funds through Chan, whom he claimed was instrumental in augmenting his supposed fortune to as much as $30 million. Prosecutors revealed that he utilised a fraudulent banking application to convince victims of his financial credibility. If an individual lacked sufficient capital to invest, Love would even assist them in securing personal loans.
As part of this fraudulent activity, victims were reportedly shown phoney account balances via the app Pocket Option. However, what they were actually viewing were simulations featuring fictional funds designed for practice trading, rather than any real investments. This method was intended to mislead victims into believing their investments were yielding positive results.
The situation turned grim for some victims, with one notably seeking a restraining order against Love due to his alleged threats of physical violence. He reportedly intimidated one woman by suggesting he could ‘make her disappear.’
Legal representatives for Love and Chan have not responded to media inquiries regarding their charges, and it remains unclear whether either of them has entered a plea in their case. The potential for more victims to surface remains open, as authorities suspect Love may have used several aliases throughout his exploits, including names such as Avril Lyto Love, Jordan Love, and Jon Love.
The FBI has encouraged anyone with further information relating to the activities of Daejon Love or Taylor Chan to come forward. They can be reached through the FBI’s online tip form or by calling their hotline directly. As the investigation continues, officials are working diligently to uncover the full extent of this alleged fraud.