Georgia cybercriminal allegedly duped NBA, NFL players in twisted phishing scam turned sex trafficking plot

A convicted cybercriminal in Georgia is accused of targeting professional athletes in a brazen phishing scheme that prosecutors say escalated into fraud, identity theft and a disturbing sex trafficking operation.

Kwamaine Jerell Ford, 34, of Buford, Georgia, is charged with nine counts of wire fraud, seven counts of computer fraud, one count of access device fraud, four counts of aggravated identity theft and one count of sex trafficking, according to a news release from the Northern District of Georgia.