A Washington state boy thought he had scored the ultimate photo opportunity when Daejon Love walked into his father’s restaurant in Vancouver, Washington, and claimed to be a professional football player. The boy asked Love for a picture, and his father, restaurant owner Kris England, later learned that the man in the photo allegedly had fabricated his NFL background.
England (@kris.england.cookss) recounted the encounter in a TikTok post that has drawn attention following Love’s Aug. 24, 2026, arrest in Boise, Idaho. “Everything Daejon Love told me was a lie,” England said in the TikTok video.
England said his restaurant staff initially alerted him because they believed a professional football player had arrived. He recalled wondering whether NBA star Damian Lillard’s camp sent Love because Lillard, who plays for the Portland Trail Blazers near Vancouver, had previously ordered dinner from the restaurant.
England said Love complimented the food.
According to England, Love complimented the food, spoke with his mother and presented himself as someone connected to professional football. According to England, Love claimed he had played for the San Francisco 49ers’ practice squad.
In hindsight, England said he viewed Love’s story differently. “Like when I go back, and I really think about this, bro is like crazy lion,” England said.
England also recalled Love arriving in a Corvette, wearing jewelry and ordering a large amount of food. He said Love left a tip of roughly $500. The encounter took on a different meaning after England learned about the federal case against Love. England said his son had simply wanted a picture with someone he believed was an NFL player.
“My son asked for a picture, and that’s where that picture came from,” England said. The two men later exchanged phone numbers. England said he eventually contacted Love about appearing in one of his YouTube videos after one of his videos went viral.
Love responded with a voice message, according to England. In it, he said he was temporarily away from football but still training. “But I’m probably gonna play next year to be honest with you,” Love said in the recording, England recalled.
England said the experience became difficult for his son after the family learned Love wasn’t actually an NFL player. “But through all this my son finding out he didn’t meet a player actually made him pretty sad,” England said. “I’m hoping through this he’ll maybe meet a player.”
Love faces fraud allegations in four states.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon says Love, 35, and Taylor Jamie Chan, 18, face federal charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud. Prosecutors allege the pair created fictitious investments and defrauded women in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and California beginning in February 2022.
It’s the second alleged fraud involving someone accused of posing as a pro athlete in recent weeks. In Georgia, a man is accused of posing as an NBA player, only to drive away with a BMW worth $90k.
Federal authorities allege Love used fictitious personas, including one portraying himself as a San Francisco 49ers player, while Chan allegedly posed as his financial adviser. Investigators identified 26 victims and said financial records showed the pair received approximately $1.3 million. The FBI believes additional victims may exist.
The Justice Department says Love and Chan were arrested at Boise Airport on Aug. 24 after investigators learned Love was in Idaho to meet potential victims.
Published: Sep 8, 2026 12:26 pm