A man accused of posing as an NFL player to scam women out of more than $1 million has denied the charges alongside his alleged accomplice.
Daejon Labrayae Love, 35, and Taylor Jamie Chan, 18, were arrested at Boise Airport in Idaho on August 24 after Chan flew from California to meet him, according to the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon. Both men are charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud, and both remain in federal custody following their initial court appearance on August 27.
The FBI has identified 26 victims so far but believes more women may have been targeted in the scheme, which prosecutors say brought in approximately $1.3 million. Investigators say none of the victims interviewed received any investment proceeds, returns on their principal, or even information about an investment account after sending money.
Love allegedly met most of the women through dating apps, presenting himself as either a San Francisco 49ers player or a wealthy real estate investor. He cultivated an image of a lavish lifestyle both in person and across social media to make his claims appear credible, prosecutors say.
According to court documents, the alleged scheme began in February 2022, with Love and Chan creating fictitious investments targeting women across Oregon, Washington, Idaho and California. Love allegedly told victims they were in genuine romantic relationships and talked about building a wealthy future together.
He then presented nonexistent investment opportunities, claiming they could produce substantial returns. Chan allegedly played the role of Love’s financial adviser, and the two exchanged investment-related messages that Chan purportedly used to encourage Love to put money into new opportunities.
Love then allegedly showed screenshots of those conversations to victims as evidence that the investments were legitimate. The pair also allegedly arranged three-way FaceTime calls, during which victims were shown falsified investment gains and encouraged to hand over their money.
Love allegedly used phone applications to create fake bank and investment accounts, complete with fabricated balances, which he displayed to victims. Some women allegedly sent money directly to Love or Chan, while others loaned Love large sums. If someone did not have enough cash to invest, prosecutors say Love sometimes instructed them to take out personal loans, promising they would be repaid quickly.
The complaint alleges Love would cut off contact with victims once they had no more money to invest or began asking too many questions, while retaining the funds. Love also allegedly used several names during the scheme, including Jon Love, Daejon Love, Avril Lyto Love and Jordan Love.
Arrest warrants and a criminal complaint were issued on August 17, and investigators tracked Chan’s flight to Boise, where FBI agents and other law enforcement officers arrested both men. The case is being investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bryan Chinwuba and Chris Cardani for the District of Oregon.
Both defendants have denied the charges.
The FBI stressed that the criminal complaint is an accusation and both defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The agency is asking anyone with information about Love or Chan to contact its tip line or call 1-800-CALL-FBI.
The alleged scheme represents an elaborate form of romance fraud that combined fake identities, fabricated financial documentation, and manipulated personal relationships to extract money from victims across multiple states.