Newly released video shows a California man accused of posing as a San Francisco 49ers player being arrested at the Boise Airport while still wearing team apparel, according to TMZ, which published the footage Thursday.
The clip, recorded Aug. 24 outside the airport, shows Daejon Labrayae Love, 35, stepping out of a white Corvette as law enforcement takes him into custody. He appears to be wearing a 49ers headband and shirt. His alleged accomplice, Taylor Jamie Chan, 18, is also seen being arrested in the video, TMZ reported.
Federal prosecutors say Love and Chan were arrested after Chan flew from California to meet Love in Boise. Investigators alleged Love was in Idaho to meet new potential victims. From July 15 through Aug. 24, Love traveled through New Mexico, California, Oregon, Nevada, Utah and Idaho, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.
Love and Chan have been charged by criminal complaint in Portland, Oregon, with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud. Authorities say the pair created fictitious investments and solicited money from women they met largely through dating apps, including Tinder, Bumble, Hinge and Facebook Dating. The scheme began in February 2022 and continued until the arrests, prosecutors said.
“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 said in a statement.
Financial records show Love and Chan received about $1.3 million from 26 identified victims in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and California. The FBI said it believes there are many more victims.
Prosecutors say Love repeatedly presented himself as a 49ers player or a wealthy real estate investor and used names including Jon Love, Avril Lyto Love and Jordan Love. An Instagram profile attributed to him described him as an undrafted NFL wide receiver for the 49ers and featured photos of him in team gear and near luxury cars. Investigators said Love used phone apps to generate fake bank and investment balances, and that Chan joined calls to help sell the investments. Some women were encouraged to take out personal loans. When victims ran out of money or asked too many questions, Love cut off contact, according to court documents and the government’s account.
The 49ers persona was elaborate, investigators alleged. Love posted workout videos in team apparel, spent more than $1,160 on custom football helmets, bought realistic prop cash and presented footage that prosecutors said was taken from real NFL players’ social media and passed off as his own. One video obtained by OutKick appeared to show him staging a contract signing and saying he was joining the 49ers. Representatives for the NFL and the 49ers told investigators Love had never been employed by the team or the league.
An FBI affidavit said Love was wearing 49ers apparel when he was arrested. Agents later found about $3,000 in cash and additional team gear, including a helmet, in an Airbnb associated with him, according to reporting on the affidavit.
Love has been ordered detained in Idaho as a flight risk while he awaits transfer to Oregon, where the case was filed. Prosecutors argued he used multiple names and vehicles, traveled frequently, had no known residence and had obtained significant proceeds from the alleged scheme. Chan was released Aug. 27 under conditions that include surrendering his passport, avoiding contact with alleged victims and staying off dating apps and social media. His initial appearance in Oregon was scheduled for Thursday. Love’s next court date has not been set pending the transfer, according to the U.S. attorney’s offices in Idaho and Oregon.
A criminal complaint is an accusation. Both men are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Each charge of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years in prison, a fine and supervised release if there is a conviction.
The FBI is asking anyone with information to submit a tip at tips.fbi.gov or call 1-800-CALL-FBI.
