A man accused of posing as a San Francisco 49ers player to defraud women across multiple states carried the same persona into the Treasure Valley.
Daejon Labrayae Love, 35, and Taylor Jamie Chan, 18, were arrested Aug. 24 at the Boise Airport after Chan flew from California to meet Love. Federal investigators allege Chan acted as Love’s financial adviser as part of the scheme, while Love was in Idaho seeking new potential victims.
Love and Chan were both charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud. Federal investigators allege the scheme involved at least 26 women across Idaho, Oregon, Washington and California and moved approximately $1.3 million through accounts controlled by Love and Chan. The FBI believes additional victims may exist.
Federal authorities allege Love met many of the women through dating apps and developed romantic relationships with them. He portrayed himself as a professional football player, successful real estate investor and member of a wealthy family.Chan allegedly presented himself as Love’s financial adviser.
“Love had romantic relationships with many of the victims and told them he wanted to build wealth and a future together,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon said in an Aug. 25 press release announcing the charges.
Investigators allege those relationships eventually turned toward money. Women were presented with investment opportunities and promised significant returns, with some encouraged to take out personal loans to invest more.
None of the victims interviewed by investigators reported receiving the investment returns or repayment they were promised.
Love allegedly reinforced his image through 49ers clothing, luxury vehicles, and other material portraying himself as a professional football player on social media.
That identity also surfaced locally in Meridian.
Meridian local Brandon Ramos told The Arbiter Love regularly joined him and a group of friends to play basketball at Homecourt. Ramos said Love played with the group on multiple occasions and told them he had not signed with the 49ers yet, but was preparing to join the team.
“It wasn’t like he just mentioned the 49ers one time,” Ramos said. “Every time we saw him, he was still presenting himself like he was part of the team. He even had the whole fit and everything. He pretty much would always wear a 49ers hat and shirt.”
Ramos recalled Love repeatedly arriving in 49ers-related clothing providing a local glimpse into how Love allegedly maintained the NFL persona outside of his romantic relationships.
The football identity was not the only story Love allegedly used.
Authorities say Love went by several names, including Jon Love, Avril Lyto Love and Jordan Love, while presenting different versions of his background to people he encountered.
Ayana Velasquez, who met Love through a dating app in 2021, told CBS News she knew him as “Jonathan.”
“When I met him in 2021, he portrayed that he wanted to be with me, wanted to give me kids, wanted to give me a house,” Velasquez told CBS News.
Love’s alleged scheme eventually led federal investigators to Boise. FBI agents arrested Love and Chan at the Boise Airport, and authorities have asked anyone who believes they interacted with the pair to contact the FBI.
Love and Chan remain in federal custody while their case proceeds in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon. His next court appearance has not been publicly scheduled.
