Convicted Criminal Gets Booked For Posing As Adult Star To Phish NFL & NBA Players In Wild Trafficking Scheme
This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.
A man from Georgia who was already convicted in a fraud case now faces new federal charges. Prosecutors say he ran a large scheme involving pro athletes and a young woman. Authorities say 34-year-old Kwamaine Jerell Ford pretended to be an adult star while he was in custody and after his release.
They claim he used fake identities to trick people into sharing personal information. They also accuse him of forcing a woman into sex work. The charges include wire fraud, computer fraud, identity theft, and sex trafficking.
Ford has pleaded not guilty, and officials are holding him without bail as he waits for trial.
Prosecutors say this case is linked to his past crimes. In 2019, he was convicted of computer fraud and identity theft in a scheme that made about $325,000. Authorities now believe he continued similar activities between 2020 and 2024, even while under supervision.
Alleged Scheme Targeted Athletes And A Young Woman
Prosecutors say Ford used a “two-pronged approach.” First, he allegedly pretended to be an adult film star online and contacted players from the NFL and NBA. He offered explicit photos and asked for their login details. Then, he acted like Apple customer service to collect usernames, passwords, and security codes.
Investigators say he used this information to get into financial accounts and steal credit and debit card details. The case mentions several athletes but does not reveal their names.
“While serving time for stealing credit card numbers from athletes and celebrities to fund his lifestyle, Ford allegedly engaged in the same conduct again,” US Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg said in a statement.
Authorities also accuse Ford of targeting a young woman. They say he posed as a porn star in 2021 and promised to help her modeling career. Prosecutors claim he pressured her into meeting men, including professional athletes, for paid sex.
Hertzberg said the case took a darker turn. “Disturbingly, the indictment alleges that Ford went even further and used a fraudulent online persona to traffic a young woman and coerce her to produce hidden camera videos of commercial sex acts with unknowing individuals,” he said.
Prosecutors say the situation became more serious. They claim Ford used fake identities to control her and forced her to secretly record these encounters without people knowing. He also arranged travel, set up meetings, and handled payments.
Records show Ford left federal prison in January 2022 and was under supervision. Later, officials placed him on home detention as part of a re-entry program.
The Justice Department is still investigating the case.
