Georgia Man Charged in Alleged Scam Targeting Pro Athletes

Prosecutors say Kwamaine Jerell Ford posed as a porn star to steal credentials and funds

Mar. 27, 2026 at 8:19pm

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A dramatic, cinematic illustration depicting a shadowy figure on a computer screen, surrounded by scattered credit cards and financial documents, conceptually representing the cybercrime scheme targeting professional athletes.A shadowy cybercrime scheme targeting wealthy professional athletes exposes the vulnerabilities of high-profile individuals in the digital age.Buford Today

A 34-year-old Georgia man named Kwamaine Jerell Ford has been charged with a wide range of federal crimes, including wire fraud, computer fraud, aggravated identity theft, and sex trafficking. Prosecutors allege that Ford posed online as a well-known female adult film star to dupe professional athletes into handing over their Apple account credentials, which he then used to steal credit and debit card data and make thousands of dollars in unauthorized purchases. Ford is also accused of convincing a female OnlyFans creator to have paid sex with athletes and record the encounters, falsely claiming it would help her modeling career.

Why it matters

This case highlights the growing problem of cybercrime targeting high-profile individuals, especially professional athletes who may be more vulnerable to scams due to their public profiles and wealth. It also raises concerns about the exploitation of sex workers and the blurring of lines between modeling, adult content, and sex trafficking.

The details

According to prosecutors, Ford's alleged scheme involved posing as a female porn star online and convincing athletes to provide their Apple ID, password, and authentication codes by promising explicit videos. He is also accused of pretending to be an Apple customer service representative to further dupe his victims. Once he gained access to the athletes' iCloud accounts, Ford allegedly stole credit and debit card data and made thousands of dollars in unauthorized purchases. Ford is also charged with persuading a female OnlyFans creator to have paid sex with athletes and record the encounters, falsely claiming it would help her modeling career, and taking a cut of the payments.

  • Ford was previously convicted in 2019 for a similar scheme targeting athletes and rappers, stealing over $325,000.
  • The newer alleged scheme started in 2020, immediately after Ford was released from prison for the previous conviction.

The players

Kwamaine Jerell Ford

A 34-year-old man from Buford, Georgia who has been charged with a range of federal crimes, including wire fraud, computer fraud, aggravated identity theft, and sex trafficking, for allegedly posing as a female porn star to scam professional athletes.

Theodore S. Hertzberg

The U.S. Attorney prosecuting the case against Kwamaine Jerell Ford.

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What they’re saying

“While serving time for stealing credit card numbers from athletes and celebrities to fund his lifestyle, Ford allegedly engaged in the same conduct again.”

— Theodore S. Hertzberg, U.S. Attorney

What’s next

Ford has pleaded not guilty to the charges. The case is ongoing, and prosecutors are working to identify all of the athletes who were targeted in the alleged scam.

The takeaway

This case underscores the importance of cybersecurity and identity protection, especially for high-profile individuals like professional athletes who may be prime targets for sophisticated scams. It also highlights the need for greater scrutiny and regulation around the intersection of adult content, modeling, and potential exploitation.