In a bizarre case of dual identities, a 35-year-old man in the United States has been accused of scamming approximately $1.3 million from at least 26 women through a combination of his roles as a wealthy Swiss real estate investor and a professional American football player.
According to the disclosure by the U.S. Department of Justice on October 14th, California man Daejon Labrayae Delenar Love has been formally charged by a federal grand jury in Oregon with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Love appeared in court on October 13th and pleaded not guilty, with the trial scheduled to begin on December 15th.
Reportedly, Love allegedly started his scheme in February 2022 by approaching women through dating platforms. At times, he claimed to be a player for the San Francisco 49ers in the National Football League (NFL), while other times he impersonated a wealthy real estate investor from Switzerland.
To convince the women of his wealth, he flaunted photos and videos of luxurious homes, cars, designer clothing, expensive watches, and stacks of cash, and proceeded to engage in romantic relationships with some of them.
After gaining their trust, Love would then recommend so-called high-return investments to them, claiming that the funds invested could double in 7 to 10 days, or even multiply by two. Some women who couldn’t provide enough cash were allegedly encouraged to apply for personal loans, with promises that the investment profits would quickly cover the debt.
Investigators state that Love also utilized mobile applications to fabricate fake bank account balances and transaction records, leading the victims to believe that their investments were indeed generating money.
However, these investment opportunities were non-existent. As per the prosecution’s allegations, the money handed over by the victims was used by Love to fund his personal expenses such as travel, hotels, luxury cars, designer clothing, and jewelry. When the women requested to withdraw their funds or began to question the investment projects, he would cut off contact.
The FBI has confirmed that at least 26 women have fallen victim to the scam, with a total amount of approximately $1.3 million involved. Investigators believe that the actual number of victims may be higher.
If convicted, Love could face up to 20 years of federal imprisonment and a fine of $250,000.