Man who masqueraded as 49ers player facing federal charges in alleged wire fraud scheme that exploited women

A man who adopted "fictitious personas," one of which notably was that of a fake San Francisco 49ers player, is part of a duo that's been arrested and charged for defrauding several women of more than $1.3 million, according to the U.S. Attorney's office in the District of Oregon .

The FBI arrested 35-year-old Daejon Love and 18-year-old Taylor Jamie Chan on Monday in Boise, Idaho, where they were apprehended upon meeting at the Boise Airport. They're facing a pair of federal charges: conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud, as detailed in a statement released this week by the U.S. Attorney's office that references court documents.

Love, who the U.S. Attorney's office says repeatedly posed as a Niners player or as a wealthy real estate investor, and Chan, who the U.S. Attorney's office says acted as Love's financial adviser, allegedly accrued the aforementioned sum by exploiting at least 26 victims. Those are the ones the FBI has identified, and the bureau believes there are "many more."

The alleged scheme spanned four years, beginning in February 2022. Love and Chan targeted women in California, Oregon, Washington and Idaho, most of whom Love met through dating apps, prosecutors said. Love has used several names — including Jon Love, Daejon Love, Avril Lyto Love and Jordan Love — while carrying out the caper, per the U.S. Attorney's office.

"Love convinced many of the victims they were in sincere romantic relationships with Love, that he was a sophisticated investor, and that Chan was his investment adviser who helped Love grow a fortune worth tens of millions of dollars," the U.S. Attorney's Office statement said. "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."

"Love convinced many of the victims they were in sincere romantic relationships with Love, that he was a sophisticated investor, and that Chan was his investment adviser who helped Love grow a fortune worth tens of millions of dollars," the U.S. Attorney's Office statement said.

"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."

Phony bank and investment accounts and balances, created via phone applications, allegedly allowed Love to strengthen the validity of the ploy. Chan and Love even held three-way FaceTimes to flaunt falsified investment gains to whichever victim was on the call, according to the U.S. Attorney's office.

Victims sent Love and Chan money with the intent that it would be deployed for fruitful investments overseen by the tandem, prosecutors said.

"Once victims had no more money to invest, or if they asked too many questions, Love blocked communication with them but kept their money," the U.S. Attorney's office statement said.

"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."

At the time of Love and Chan's arrest, Love was in Idaho to meet new victims, per investigators.