Crime
Kwamaine Jerell Ford Indicted in Alleged Fraud and Sex Trafficking Scheme Targeting Professional Athletes
Federal prosecutors have charged a Georgia man with orchestrating a complex fraud and sex trafficking scheme that allegedly targeted professional athletes, even while he was serving time in federal prison.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia, Kwamaine Jerell Ford, 34, of Buford, has been indicted on multiple federal charges related to an alleged operation that involved phishing scams, identity theft, financial fraud, and sex trafficking.
Prosecutors say the scheme began in November 2020 while Ford was already in federal custody. Investigators allege he carried out a sophisticated two-part phishing operation designed to gain access to the Apple accounts of professional athletes, including individuals in the National Basketball Association and the National Football League.
According to the indictment, Ford allegedly posed online as a well-known adult film star, contacting athletes and offering to send them explicit videos. At the same time, he reportedly sent messages that appeared to come from Apple customer support, instructing the victims to provide their Apple ID login credentials and multi-factor authentication codes in order to receive the content.
Authorities say dozens of athletes were deceived into providing their account information, allowing Ford to gain unauthorized access to their Apple accounts. Prosecutors allege he then used the compromised accounts to obtain financial and personal information, which he used to make thousands of dollars in fraudulent purchases with victims’ credit and debit cards.
Federal investigators say the scheme escalated in May 2021, when Ford allegedly recruited and manipulated a woman into engaging in commercial sex acts with professional athletes.
According to prosecutors, Ford allegedly falsely promised the woman that a prominent adult film performer could help advance her modeling career, convincing her to participate in the arrangement.
The indictment alleges that Ford:
- Advertised the woman to professional athletes
- Coordinated her travel arrangements to meet them
- Negotiated payments for the sexual encounters
- Took a portion of the money earned from those meetings
Authorities also allege Ford coerced the victim into secretly recording videos of the encounters without the athletes’ knowledge. Prosecutors say he used multiple fake online identities to threaten, manipulate, and pressure the victim into continuing to participate in the scheme.
Ford had previously been convicted in 2019 in federal court in the Northern District of Georgia on charges of computer fraud and aggravated identity theft. Prosecutors in that case said he used stolen financial information belonging to athletes and celebrities to fraudulently spend nearly $325,000.
Ford appeared in federal court on March 13, 2026, where he entered a plea of not guilty to the new charges.
The indictment includes:
- 9 counts of wire fraud
- 7 counts of computer fraud
- 1 count of access device fraud
- 4 counts of aggravated identity theft
- 1 count of sex trafficking
A U.S. magistrate judge ordered that Ford remain in federal custody without bond while awaiting trial.
The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, specifically the FBI Atlanta Field Office. Federal authorities say the case remains ongoing as investigators continue reviewing evidence and identifying potential victims.
Crime
Angela Johnson and Her Son DeAngelo Johnson Killed After Shooting Inside Home in Chicago, Mother’s Boyfriend in Custody
CHICAGO — A 47-year-old mother and her 27-year-old son were fatally shot inside a residence in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood on the West Side late Thursday night, September 24, 2026, according to Chicago police.
The victims were identified as Angela Johnson, 47, and DeAngelo Johnson, 27. Police said a suspect, identified as Angela Johnson’s boyfriend, was taken into custody following the shooting.
The deadly shooting happened in the 800 block of North Parkside Avenue at approximately 10:43 p.m. Witnesses reported hearing gunshots coming from the basement of the residence and called 911.
When Chicago police officers arrived, they found the two victims suffering from gunshot wounds.
Angela Johnson was found in the basement with a gunshot wound to her chest. Police-radio traffic indicated she had been shot on the right side of her chest.
DeAngelo Johnson was found on the first floor with multiple gunshot wounds. Radio traffic indicated that he had suffered two gunshot wounds to his back.
Both victims were initially unresponsive and in critical condition. Emergency personnel performed CPR on DeAngelo Johnson before both victims were transported to Mount Sinai Hospital, where they were pronounced dead.
According to police-radio traffic, one victim was pronounced dead at approximately 11:18 p.m., while the male victim was pronounced dead around 11:21 p.m.
Investigators found extensive evidence inside the residence, including approximately 23 shell casings in a basement bedroom. Additional shell casings were reportedly recovered in other areas of the basement, including the stairway, main room and bedroom.
Officers initially recovered a firearm and shell casings from the basement bedroom. Police later located a second firearm inside the home, bringing the total number of recovered firearms to two.
Authorities have not publicly stated who owned the firearms or confirmed which weapon, if either, was used in the fatal shooting.
Police also reported that DeAngelo Johnson was wearing an empty holster when officers found him on the first floor. That discovery prompted an officer-safety alert as officers searched the residence for the missing firearm.
Chicago police said the shooting appeared to be domestic-related and identified the alleged offender as the mother’s boyfriend.
Radio traffic indicated that a person had been detained by approximately 11:26 p.m. The official police report later confirmed that the known offender was taken into custody.
Two witnesses were reportedly available to identify the alleged offender, and officers conducted a show-up identification procedure near the scene.
Police have not released additional information about potential charges against the suspect.
The investigation into the Chicago Austin neighborhood double shooting remains ongoing. Detectives are continuing to examine the circumstances that led to the shooting, the relationship between the people involved and the role of the two recovered firearms.
The deaths of Angela Johnson and DeAngelo Johnson are being investigated as a double homicide.