A federal court has charged Kwamaine Jerell Ford , a Georgia man , with orchestrating a phishing scam targeting professional athletes in the NBA and NFL while he was in federal prison. Prosecutors say he managed to access victims' Apple accounts , steal financial information and make fraudulent transactions .
According to the indictment, the perpetrator posed as both an adult film star and representatives customer support Apple to trick athletes into sharing their login details and multi-factor authentication codes. Authorities say the stolen information was then used to access accounts and make unauthorized purchases.
The 34-year-old had created an account that impersonated the movie star and was communicating with the athletes – victims to send them alleged erotic videos.
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When impersonating Apple support staff , they sent messages asking athletes to send their usernames, passwords, or multi-factor authentication codes in order to supposedly gain access to the videos. According to researchers, dozens of athletes fell victim to the phishing scam and unknowingly handed over their account login details.
Once Ford gained access to the victims' accounts, he obtained their stored credit and debit card . The indictment alleges he then used the stolen financial information for personal spending. Authorities believe the phishing scam allowed Ford to make thousands of dollars worth of transactions.
Federal prosecutors also allege that the phishing scam extended beyond financial fraud to include coercion and human trafficking activities involving a female victim. The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Ford has pleaded not guilty to multiple federal charges.
Phishing scam by a convicted fraudster
The case is particularly striking because Ford had previously been convicted of similar crimes. In 2019, in the Northern District of Georgia, he was convicted of computer fraud and identity theft after phishing attacksallowed him to spend nearly $325,000 using stolen financial information belonging to athletes and celebrities.
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“While serving time for stealing credit card numbers from athletes and celebrities, Ford allegedly engaged in the same scam again,” said Theodore S. Hertzberg. “The indictment alleges that Ford took it a step further and used a fake online persona to traffic a young woman and coerce her into recording (with a hidden camera) videos during sexual acts with unsuspecting individuals.”
The prosecutors say that Ford promised the victim that the fake movie star would help promote her career in modeling.
Based on those allegations, the woman allegedly traveled to meet athletes and participate in meetings organized by Ford. Authorities say Ford coordinated the trips, negotiated payments with the athletes and took a cut of the meetings. Investigators also allege that Ford additionally used false personas to threaten the victim and pressure her to continue the activity.
Some meetings were allegedly recorded without the knowledge or consent of the athletes. FBI officials say the case shows how online scams can expand into broader criminal activity. “Kwamaine Ford clearly did not learn from his previous conviction. This time, he allegedly escalated his criminal activity—stealing identities and money while also engaging in extortion and human trafficking,” said Peter Ellis.
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On March 13, 2026, Ford appeared in federal court and pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, including nine counts of wire fraud, seven counts of computer fraud, one count of device access fraud, four counts of identity theft, and one count of human trafficking.
A U.S. judge ordered him held without bail while the case proceeds. As with all federal charges, the charges are based on allegations, and Ford is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bernita B. Malloy and Phyllis Clerk handling the case.
