Felon indicted for ‘posing as porn star to phish NFL and NBA stars in sex-trafficking scheme’ from behind bars

A Georgia felon is facing federal sex-trafficking, identity-theft and computer-fraud charges for allegedly posing as an online porn star to target NFL and NBA players in a phishing scam.

Kwamaine Jerell Ford, 34, was convicted of computer fraud and aggravated identify theft over a similar $325,000 scheme in 2019. Now, US attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg has indicted Ford for allegedly creating fake online personas ‘to traffic a young woman and coerce her to produce hidden camera videos of commercial sex acts with unknowing individuals.’

Ford has pleaded not guilty to nine counts of wire fraud, seven counts of computer fraud, one count of access device fraud, four counts of aggravated identity theft, and a count of sex trafficking. He is being held without bail pending trial.

The NFL and NBA players who are believed to have been ensnared by the scheme have not been identified publicly. 

Ford’s mugshot is unavailable as the Department of Justice does not obtain or provide booking photos.  

Prosecutors say the alleged scheme began 2020, using a ‘two-pronged approach.’

Posing online as an adult film star, Ford would offer to send sexually explicit photos to athletes.

Having successfully spoofed Apple customer service accounts, according to the DOJ, Ford would then reach out to athletes via text message to solicit usernames, passwords and authentication codes in exchange for access to the promised pornographic photos. 

Ford allegedly tricked dozens of victims into divulging their login credentials, which he’s accused of using to obtain credit and debit card information. 

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