Federal authorities have arrested and charged a man who allegedly posed as a professional football player to defraud 26 women of approximately 130만 달러(약 17억 4902만원), according to federal prosecutors. Dayjon Love and an 18-year-old co-conspirator, Taylor Chan, face wire fraud and conspiracy charges filed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, according to news reports covering the federal case.
An Elaborate Gridiron Deception
According to federal investigators, Love convinced victims on social media that he was a star wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers. Court records and media reports indicate that Love never played a single game in the National Football League. To bolster the illusion, Love reportedly carried a 49ers helmet valued at $1,160 and told targets about his career prospects, even joking that he would soon transfer to the Los Angeles Chargers, as detailed by NBC News and other outlets.
Luxury Lifestyle Funded by Fraud
Investigators state that Love utilized the proceeds from his alleged scheme to fund a lavish lifestyle, acquiring supercars and designer clothing. Kazi Arman Islam, a Bay Area businessman, told reporters that he rented a Lamborghini and a Mercedes-Benz to Love after listening to stories about the suspect’s supposed athletic future. Islam, who is currently suing Love over an unpaid Lamborghini rental balance of $9,383, noted in a February voice memo reported by media outlets that the suspect was “really, really convincing.”
Victims Come Forward Across Multiple States
The alleged scheme left a trail of financial and personal fallout across different jurisdictions. Gwendolyn Hundern, a real estate broker in Oregon, filed a lawsuit against Love after handing over 1만 달러(약 1345만원) for what she believed was a legitimate investment opportunity. Hundern described Love’s eventual arrest as overdue justice. Additional court claims allege that a California woman loaned Love $7,461 in 2021 after he claimed to have lost his wallet, money that was never repaid, while other vehicle financing agreements went into default through 2023.
The Role of the Co-Conspirator
Federal prosecutors allege that Chan acted as Love’s high-ticket investment adviser, introducing victims into the fold. The pair allegedly leveraged the fabricated athletic identities to steer targets into fraudulent investment schemes.
