The San Francisco 49ers received a warning about Daejon Love months before his arrest, according to a woman who says she was one of his victims. Gwen Herndon submitted a complaint to the team in December, claiming there was “a federal investigation surrounding a man pretending to be a 49ers player” who was stealing money from women and harming the team’s reputation.
Herndon told ESPN that she felt compelled to report Love because “there were so many victims and there were going to continue to be victims unless a public statement was made and was very visible.” She added, “I knew that based on how fast he was moving.” The 49ers responded a week later from a general guest services account at Levi’s Stadium, stating they took reports of impersonation seriously but could not comment on ongoing investigations. The message encouraged Herndon to contact law enforcement directly and said the team would monitor any impersonation incidents.
Despite the response, Herndon said she never heard back from the 49ers again. ESPN reported a source claiming the team had not received any reports about Love prior to the FBI’s contact in August. It remains unclear if Herndon’s email was reviewed internally or escalated within the organization.
Love, 35, was arrested in August alongside 18-year-old Taylor Chan. Both face charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud. Authorities say Love repeatedly posed as a 49ers player or a wealthy real estate investor over several years. Together with Chan, he allegedly targeted women on dating apps, convincing them to send money for supposed investments. Prosecutors say victims intended their funds to be used for profitable investments but were defrauded instead.
Initial investigations identified 26 victims and losses exceeding $1.3 million across California, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon. The FBI later announced 35 more women had come forward with claims against Love and Chan, and they suspect additional victims remain unidentified.
Herndon, a real estate agent, filed a small claims lawsuit against Love in Oregon last year. She said she gave him $10,000 for an investment idea he pitched but was blocked by Love when she requested her money back and asked questions. Beyond contacting the FBI and local police, Herndon created a Facebook group and ran a newspaper ad for weeks to raise awareness.
“I trusted the Niners and believed them in saying there wasn’t much that they could do,” Herndon said about her interaction with the team. “It was enough for me to know that they knew. In their own right, I also think that they are a victim.” She expressed frustration that the email might not have been escalated or taken as seriously as she had hoped.
The 49ers have not publicly commented beyond the initial response to Herndon’s message. The FBI continues to investigate the case, searching for more victims connected to Love and Chan’s scheme.
According to Yahoo Sports.