Kwamaine Jerell Ford is back in a Georgia courtroom, this time facing a massive federal indictment that suggests his previous run in with the law didn’t slow him down.
The 34-year-old Buford resident pleaded not guilty on Friday to a series of charges that paint a picture of a sophisticated criminal operation targeting some of the biggest names in professional sports. Despite his plea, a magistrate judge decided Ford is too much of a risk to let out, ordering him held without bond until his trial begins.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia has brought a comprehensive set of 22 separate counts against Ford. The list includes wire and computer fraud, identity theft, and a serious charge of sex trafficking. Investigators believe this latest spree started back in late 2020. What makes this case particularly bold is that Ford was allegedly running the scheme while he was still locked up in federal prison for doing almost the exact same thing to celebrities years prior.
The alleged scam worked in two parts. First, prosecutors say Ford posed as a famous adult film star online to get the attention of NBA and NFL players. While baiting them with promises of explicit videos, he would reportedly send fake Apple support messages asking for their login details and security codes. Once the athletes handed over that info, Ford allegedly moved into their accounts, using their linked credit and debit cards to fund a personal shopping spree.
By 2021, the government claims the situation became even more predatory. The indictment alleges Ford used his fake online persona to lure a woman into the mix by promising to jumpstart her modeling career. Instead, he reportedly forced her into sex work with professional athletes. The feds say Ford took care of all the travel and money, pocketing a portion of the cash while forcing the woman to secretly record the encounters without the athletes ever knowing they were being filmed.
While serving time for stealing credit card numbers from athletes and celebrities to fund his lifestyle, Ford allegedly engaged in the same conduct again,” U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg said in a statement. This follows a 2019 conviction where Ford was found guilty of stealing nearly $325,000 in a similar phishing operation. Federal agents say this new case shows a dangerous shift from just stealing money to exploiting people.
“Ford clearly did not learn from his prior conviction for a similar scheme,” said Peter Ellis, acting special agent in charge of the FBI’s Atlanta office. “This time, he allegedly escalated his criminal activity—stealing identities and money while also moving into coercion and sex trafficking.”
As the FBI continues its investigation, it is important to remember that these charges are currently just allegations, and Ford is presumed innocent until a court says otherwise.
