A 35-year-old man accused of posing as a San Francisco 49ers wide receiver and wealthy real estate investor allegedly used romantic relationships and fictitious investment opportunities to convince more than two dozen women to hand over approximately $1.3 million, according to federal authorities.

Daejon Labrayae Love and his alleged accomplice, 18-year-old Taylor Jamie Chan, have been charged in federal court in Oregon with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud. The FBI arrested both men Aug. 24 at Boise Airport in Idaho.

Federal investigators allege the scheme stretched from at least February 2022 until the day of their arrests, reaching women in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and California.

At the center of the case is an elaborate identity authorities say Love constructed online.

According to an FBI affidavit filed in federal court, Love frequently presented himself as a wealthy NFL player for the San Francisco 49ers or as a successful real estate investor from Switzerland. He allegedly used several names, including “Jon Love,” “Daejon Love,” “Avril Lyto Love” and “Jordan Love.”

Love met many of the women through dating apps, according to investigators, and allegedly convinced several that they were involved in genuine romantic relationships with him.

But prosecutors say the romance was part of a much larger financial scheme.

A Fake NFL Career and Lavish Lifestyle

Love allegedly built an extensive online presence designed to support the wealthy persona he presented to women.

Authorities say he posted photographs of himself wearing 49ers gear, posing with luxury vehicles and presenting a lifestyle consistent with the image of a successful professional athlete and investor.

In some cases, Love allegedly claimed he had gone undrafted before eventually earning his way onto the 49ers roster. He also represented himself as financially sophisticated and told women that he wanted to build wealth and a future with them.

The problem, according to federal authorities, was that the NFL career and investment opportunities weren't real.

Prosecutors allege Love introduced women to investment opportunities that supposedly offered enormous returns. Chan then entered the picture as Love's purported financial adviser, lending another layer of credibility to the operation.

Authorities say Chan wasn't actually managing a multimillion-dollar fortune for Love.

Instead, investigators allege he was helping sell the illusion.

Fake Investment Gains and Three-Way Calls

The alleged scheme went beyond simply asking women for money.

According to prosecutors, Love and Chan conducted three-way FaceTime calls with victims in which they displayed falsified investment gains and encouraged women to put additional money into the supposed investments.

Investigators say Love also used phone applications to create fictitious bank and investment accounts and balances. Love and Chan allegedly exchanged messages discussing investment opportunities that Love could then show victims as further evidence that the investments were legitimate.

Women sent money directly to Love and Chan believing it would be invested on their behalf, prosecutors allege.

Some victims also allegedly loaned Love large amounts of money. When a woman didn't have enough cash available to invest, authorities say Love sometimes encouraged her to take out a personal loan, promising the money would quickly be repaid.

Federal investigators say that repayment generally never came.

Of the identified victims interviewed by investigators, none reported receiving investment proceeds, returns on their principal or investment-account information after sending the pair money, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Authorities allege Love would eventually cut off communication once a woman had no more money available or began asking too many questions.

At Least 26 Women and $1.3 Million

Financial records examined by investigators show Love and Chan received approximately $1.3 million from alleged victims, according to federal authorities.

At least 26 women have been identified.

The FBI believes there could be many more.

One woman who encountered Love years earlier told CBS News that she met him through a dating app in 2021, when she knew him as “Jonathan.”

Ayana Velasquez said Love spoke about wanting a future with her and claimed his family was extremely wealthy and owned property in the United States. But she became suspicious of his stories and eventually stopped communicating with him.

Velasquez said she didn't learn the man's real identity until she later recognized his photograph in news coverage of the federal case.

FBI Arrested Both Men at Boise Airport

Federal arrest warrants and a criminal complaint were issued for Love and Chan on Aug. 17.

A week later, investigators learned Chan was flying from California to meet Love in Boise. FBI agents and other law-enforcement personnel arrested both men at Boise Airport on Aug. 24.

Investigators allege Love was in Idaho to meet new potential victims. They also determined that between July 15 and his arrest, Love had traveled through New Mexico, California, Oregon, Nevada, Utah and Idaho.

Love and Chan now face federal charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

The allegations against both men remain accusations at this stage. Neither has been convicted, and both are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

But investigators are continuing to look beyond the 26 women already identified. With the FBI saying it believes additional victims may exist, the alleged $1.3 million operation could ultimately prove larger than what federal authorities have documented so far.