A San Francisco 49ers helmet, 26 women and $1.3 million. One man, Daejon Labrayae Love, has the internet on lock right now in connection to all three. Love is accused of posing as a 49ers player to scam over a dozen women out of their coins! Now, the 35-year-old and his 18-year-old partner-in-scheme, Taylor Jamie Chan, are in police custody. They’re both facing federal charges.
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Who Was Involved In The Scam?
Earlier this week, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Oregon revealed the years-long scheme that Daejon Labrayae Love and Taylor Jamie Chan ran. The press release cited court documents that revealed the San Francisco 49ers player scam began as early as February 2022. At the time, Chan was likely a minor, approximately 14 years old, while Love was in his early 30s. Love used several names in the scheme, including Jon Love, Daejon Love, Avril Lyto Love and Jordan Love.
How Did The Fake 49ers Player Scam Work?
Together, they created multiple “fictitious investments” to defraud women in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and California. Love found most of his alleged victims through online dating apps. Meanwhile, Chan helped sell the 49ers player scam by posing as Love’s financial adviser. They then solicited money from the women “through lies and misrepresentations.”
“The scheme relied on Love’s creation of fictitious personas and display of a lavish lifestyle, which Love presented to victims both in person and on social media websites. Love falsely portrayed himself as legitimately wealthy, often as an NFL player for the San Francisco 49ers or as a wealthy real estate investor,” the DA’s office said.
The 35-year-old managed to convince at least 26 women that they were in “sincere romantic relationships” with him. They also believed he was a “sophisticated investor” that Chan aided in earning “tens of millions of dollars.”
“[Daejon Labrayae] Love had romantic relationships with many of the victims and told them he wanted to build wealth and a future together. Love advertised nonexistent investment vehicles and claimed these investments would generate massive returns for both him and his victims,” the statement read. Adding, “Love also used phone applications to create fictitious bank and investment accounts and balances which Love showed victims to legitimize the scheme.”
Love and Chan exchanged investment-related information in messages they later sent to victims. Additionally, they hosted 3-way calls with victims to show “falsified investment gains and encouraged victims to part with their money.” Victims loaned “large amounts of money” and sometimes took out personal loans at Love’s direction. But once the money dried up, so did Love’s communication with the victims.
“Once victims had no more money to invest, or if they asked too many questions, Love blocked communication with them, but kept their money. Of the victims identified and interviewed, none reported receiving any proceeds, returns on their principle, or investment account information, after sending Love and Chan money.”
What Are The Charges Against The Men Involved?
Ultimately, Daejon Labrayae Love and Taylor Jamie Chan collected about $1.3 million from their victim investors. While only 26 women have been identified, “the FBI believes there are many more victims,” the statement said. Their arrest warrants and complaint were issued in Oregon on August 17. However, the feds arrested the men on August 24 in Boise, Idaho. That day, Chan had flown from California to Idaho to meet Love. They were arrested at the Boise Airport and held in custody in Boise, Idaho. The 35-year-old was in the area to allegedly meet new victims.
Between July 15 and August 24, Love traveled to New Mexico, California, Oregon, Nevada, Utah and Idaho. Both men were charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud. Their scam lasted until the day of their arrest, per the DA’s office. Their first court appearance was scheduled for August 27.
