Daejon Labrayae Love, 35, posed as a San Francisco 49ers player and scammed more than 26 women out of about $1.3 million through a romance and investment fraud scheme, the FBI said [1, 2, 3]. Love and his alleged accomplice Taylor Jamie Chan, 18, were arrested on August 24, 2026, in Boise, Idaho. Both face charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud [1, 2, 3].
The scheme began in February 2022. Love created fictitious personas and posed as a professional football player on dating apps. He maintained a fake image of a 49ers player using social media posts with official team gear and luxury vehicles [1, 2, 3]. A video obtained in late 2024 shows Love signing what he claimed was an NFL contract while declaring, “Niners, you already know, Niner gang,” though the NFL and 49ers confirmed he was never employed by either [3].
Chan posed as Love's financial adviser and together they created sham investment opportunities. They targeted women across California, Oregon, Washington and Idaho, convincing victims that Love was a sophisticated investor managing a multi-million-dollar fortune with Chan's help [1, 2, 3]. Victims were led to believe they were in romantic relationships with Love and were encouraged to invest or lend money to these false ventures [1, 2, 3].
Authorities say no victims received any returns or repayments on their investments or loans. Love blocked those who ran out of money or asked too many questions [1, 2]. The pair traveled through several western states including New Mexico, California, Oregon, Nevada, Utah and Idaho prior to their arrest [2]. Love also used multiple aliases, such as Jon Love, Avril Lyto Love, and Jordan Love, in addition to variations of his real name [2].
The Justice Department publicly announced the charges on August 25, 2026 [3]. The case remains under investigation as authorities pursue further leads.
Love and Chan's arrests close a four-year fraud scheme that defrauded more than two dozen victims out of $1.3 million, according to court documents filed at the time of their arrest [1, 2, 3].
