Georgia Man'S Deceptive Onlyfans Scheme Targets Pro Athletes

Alleged Mastermind Behind OnlyFans Scam

In a plot that sounds straight out of a crime thriller, a Georgia man has been accused of duping some of the nation's top athletes by posing as an OnlyFans star. The alleged scam sought to siphon off sensitive information from NFL and NBA players, leading to a dramatic set of charges.

Kwamaine Jerell Ford, 34, is facing a daunting list of accusations, including nine counts of wire fraud, seven of computer fraud, and additional charges of access device fraud and aggravated identity theft. In total, Ford is staring down 22 charges, to which he pleaded not guilty on March 13. A judge has ordered him to remain in custody without bail as he awaits trial.

“While serving time for stealing credit card numbers from athletes and celebrities to fund his lifestyle, Ford allegedly engaged in the same conduct again,” U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg told The Athletic.

A Familiar Pattern of Deception

This isn't Ford's first brush with the law. Previously, he served time for a similar phishing scheme that reportedly cost his victims nearly $325,000. Released to home confinement in 2020 due to the pandemic, Ford allegedly wasted no time before embarking on his latest scheme.

Authorities claim he impersonated a well-known adult film star, securing Apple account credentials from his unsuspecting victims. By posing as an Apple support representative, Ford allegedly coaxed players into handing over usernames, passwords, and multi-factor authentication codes.

Escalating Allegations

The charges don't stop at identity theft. Prosecutors allege that Ford used a fraudulent persona to traffic a young woman, coercing her into creating hidden camera videos of commercial sex acts with uninformed participants. Allegedly, he also lured athletes into intimate encounters with an OnlyFans creator, secretly filming these interactions and coordinating payments under false pretenses.

Peter Ellis, acting special agent in charge of the FBI’s Atlanta office, stated, “Kwamaine Ford clearly did not learn from his prior conviction for a similar scheme. This time, he allegedly escalated his criminal activity — stealing identities and money while also moving into coercion and sex trafficking.”

The NFLPA noted in a memo that by 2021, Ford had allegedly expanded his operations, promising athletes a boost to their careers in exchange for their involvement.

A Cautionary Tale

This case serves as a stark reminder of the lengths to which some will go to exploit the digital age for personal gain. With the FBI and other agencies closely monitoring such schemes, the public can remain assured that efforts to protect against these threats are ongoing. As the story unfolds, the trial promises further revelations about this audacious scam.