This week, news broke of a major scam that targeted NBA and NFL players over the past few years. On Thursday, the NFL Players Association sent a memo informing certified agents about the fraud and sex trafficking schemes of a man named Kwamaine Jerell Ford.
Based on the FBI’s findings, Ford perpetrated a scam that involved phishing, coercion of a content creator, and violation of individuals’ right to privacy. Though no specific athletes have been named, this development is shaping up to be an explosive news item with ramifications across two of the biggest sporting leagues in the U.S.
What Was the Scheme That Targeted NBA and NFL Players?
According to a press release by the U.S. Department of Justice, Ford took on multiple fraudulent personas to fool the athletes he was targeting. On the one hand, beginning in at least November 2020, he allegedly posed as an adult film star named Teanna Trump who “offered to send sexually explicit videos to the athletes.” Simultaneously, Ford also impersonated Apple customer service accounts in order to secure sensitive details like “their username, password, and/or Multi-Factor Authentication codes,” so that the athletes could supposedly access the videos that “Trump” was offering.
Gaining access to the athletes’ Apple accounts, Ford was said to use their credit and debit card information to “pay for thousands of dollars in personal spending.”
How Did an OnlyFans Creator Get Involved in This Scam That Targeted NBA and NFL Players?
On top of this, Ford (using the “Trump” persona) was said to have “recruited, tricked, and coerced a female victim” in May 2021. This victim, who was characterized as an “adult female OnlyFans creator,” was allegedly trafficked, with Ford facilitating her travel to the athletes with whom she engaged in sexual acts. Reportedly, Ford secured payments from the athletes who wanted to “purchase sex with the victim.”
Who Is Kwamaine Jerell Ford, the Perpetrator of the Scam Targeting NBA and NFL Players?
Ford, a 34-year-old resident of Buford, Georgia, had been convicted of aggravated identity theft and computer fraud and abuse in 2019. At the time, he gained access to over 100 iCloud accounts belonging to athletes and musicians. Ford went on to spend over $325,000 of the money that he stole from these personalities. Reportedly, he began his current scheme targeting NBA and NFL players while he served his home-based prison sentence for this previous offense.
Ford’s hearing is set for June 1. Till then, Ford (who was arrested earlier this month) will be held without bail pending trial.
