Federal prosecutors are asking a judge to keep alleged fraudster Daejon Labrayae Love behind bars following his arrest at an airport in Boise, Idaho.
According to court documents obtained by TMZ, prosecutors argue that evidence against the 35-year-old is strong and that he has "every incentive to flee." The Department of Justice announced on Friday that Love and alleged accomplice Taylor Jamie Chan, 18, were taken into custody earlier in the week.
A criminal complaint filed in Portland, Oregon, charges both Love and Chan with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Investigators allege the pair carried out a $1.3 million romance scam targeting dozens of women across four US states.
Boise is the capital and largest city of Idaho, located in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. Federal criminal prosecutions in Oregon are handled by the United States Attorney's Office within the Department of Justice, the executive department responsible for federal law enforcement.
Prosecutors Warn of Flight Risk
The criminal complaint, obtained by the Daily Mail, details how Love allegedly falsely claimed to be a member of the San Francisco 49ers in order to swindle women he met on dating applications to prop up fake investments.
Love reportedly told at least one victim that he was related to Jordan Love, quarterback for the Green Bay Packers. The filing states Love also falsely claimed to have personal relationships with NFL players Tyreek Hill, Antonio Brown, and John Brown.
According to the court filing, Love claimed to have exercised with various NFL players, including Hill and Brown. He allegedly told victims he had received "invitations to try out with NFL teams" before he "chose" the 49ers.
Allegations of Fake NFL Ties
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in Santa Clara, California, competing in the National Football League. The Green Bay Packers are an NFL franchise based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Tyreek Hill is an All-Pro wide receiver in the NFL who previously played for the Miami Dolphins.
Federal prosecutors allege that beginning in February 2022, Love and Chan created fake investment opportunities to defraud women in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and California.
Love allegedly initiated contact with most of the victims through online dating applications such as Tinder. Love would falsely portray himself as a wealthy individual, often pretending to be a 49ers player or a real estate investor, while flaunting a lavish lifestyle.
Mechanics of the Dating App Fraud
Chan allegedly posed as Love's financial adviser to gain the victims' trust and guide them through prospective investments. The pair exchanged investment-related messages, which Love would screenshot and send to victims to convince them to part with their money.
To further legitimize the operation, Love and Chan created fake bank and investment accounts showing falsified balances. They also hosted three-way FaceTime video calls with victims to display fake financial gains.
The complaint outlines one specific case in which Love met a woman on Tinder in March 2025. After going on a date, Love asked "about her financial situation and if she was interested in investing," convincing her to send him $17,200.
Court records state that "[the woman] did not receive any confirmation of the investments." When she questioned Love about her money, "Love stopped communicating with her."
In addition to sending investment funds, victims also loaned Love large sums. If a victim lacked funds to invest, Love allegedly instructed her to take out personal loans with the promise of prompt repayment. Once victims ran out of money or asked too many questions, Love blocked them while keeping their money.
The criminal complaint notes that Love used several aliases to perpetuate the scheme, including Jon Love, Daejon Love, Avril Lyto Love, and Jordan Love.
Scale of the Losses and Airport Arrest
Financial records analyzed by law enforcement show that Love and Chan received approximately $1.3 million from their victims. Authorities have identified and interviewed 26 victims so far, none of whom have received any returns on their money.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, which leads federal white-collar and financial crime investigations, believes the actual number of victims is significantly higher than those currently identified.
The FBI discovered that on August 24, Chan was flying from California to meet Love in Boise, where Love was allegedly planning to meet new victims. Federal agents swooped in at the Boise airport to apprehend both suspects.
Under US federal law, wire fraud involves using electronic communications or internet services to conduct a scheme to defraud others of money or property. Wire fraud charges carry potential penalties of up to 20 years in federal prison per count.
Social Media Reaction and Online Mockery
In the days following the disclosure of the federal complaint, social media users widely mocked Love and his fabricated association with the San Francisco 49ers.
San Francisco 49ers passing game coach Leonard Hankerson joined the online reaction by posting an AI-altered photograph on social media showing himself standing next to Love on a football field.
Former San Francisco pass catcher Kendrick Bourne commented on the post: "Man I knew you was coaching him," accompanied by laughing emojis. Hankerson responded: "Man I hate we lost him.... He was balling!!!"
Other social media users followed suit, posting similar AI-generated images of themselves signing NFL contracts or attending team practice sessions to join in the online commentary.
