Georgia Man Accused of Posing as Adult Film Star to Defraud NFL and NBA Players While Incarcerated
Federal prosecutors have unveiled a disturbing case involving a Georgia man who allegedly orchestrated an elaborate online scam targeting professional athletes from behind bars. Kwamaine Jerell Ford, 34, of Buford, is accused of posing as a well-known adult film star to deceive NFL and NBA players, while simultaneously engaging in coercion and sex trafficking.
Previous Convictions and Escalating Criminal Activity
Ford was already serving a prison sentence for prior convictions related to computer fraud and aggravated identity theft when he allegedly launched this new scheme. He had been jailed in 2019 after stealing nearly $325,000 from victims in an earlier identity theft scam. U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg stated, "While serving time for stealing credit card numbers from athletes and celebrities to fund his lifestyle, Ford allegedly engaged in the same conduct again." He added that the indictment reveals Ford went further by using a fraudulent online persona to traffic a young woman and coerce her into producing hidden camera videos of commercial sex acts with unknowing individuals.
Two-Pronged Approach to Scamming Athletes
According to officials, Ford employed a dual strategy to defraud the athletes. First, he impersonated the unnamed adult film star, offering sexually explicit videos to the players. Concurrently, he mimicked legitimate Apple customer service accounts, presenting himself as a tech support representative. Under the guise of security measures to enable video viewing, he would request usernames, passwords, and multi-factor authentication codes from his victims.
Once he gained control of their Apple accounts, Ford allegedly used their credit and debit card information to fund thousands of dollars in personal expenses. Prosecutors indicate that dozens of individuals fell victim to this phishing scheme, which began as early as November 2020.
Coercion and Sex Trafficking Allegations
In May 2021, Ford reportedly recruited a female victim while still masquerading as the adult film star. He allegedly coerced her into engaging in commercial sex acts with professional athletes, promising to advance her modeling career in return. Prosecutors claim that Ford negotiated payments from the athletes for sex with the victim and arranged her travel to meet them.
Furthermore, Ford is accused of coercing the woman into filming several sexual encounters without the athletes' knowledge or consent. He allegedly took a financial cut from these acts and used other fraudulent personas to threaten the victim into compliance. Peter Ellis, FBI Georgia Acting Special Agent in Charge, remarked, "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."
Legal Proceedings and Charges
On March 13, 2026, Ford appeared in court and pleaded not guilty to a series of charges, including:
- Nine counts of wire fraud
- Seven counts of computer fraud
- One count of access device fraud
- Four counts of aggravated identity theft
- One count of sex trafficking
The case highlights the severe consequences of cybercrime and exploitation, with federal authorities emphasizing the need for vigilance in online interactions.
