Man accused of scamming parents out of thousands, promising access to college football programs

GAINESVILLE, Ga. — A Gwinnett County man is facing theft by deception charges after being accused of scamming parents out of thousands of dollars with false promises of exclusive access to elite college football programs across the country. 

Authorities said Malcom Walker left many parents empty-handed, with no connections and an uncertain future.

Gainesville Police said they received a case from a local resident on December 18, 2024, regarding fraud. The victim reported sending multiple Cash App transactions to Walker, totaling $1,023, for services that were never rendered. 

Walker allegedly promised the victim that he could help his son, a football player, get in front of recruiting personnel. The money transfer was intended to cover the cost of airfare and game entries, as promised by Walker. He also allegedly claimed to have a son playing for Buford High School and accepted on scholarship to Colorado University.

“Malcom used hope and a future to prey upon our youth, using the goodwill of their parents and guardians,” said Gainesville Police Lieutenant Kevin Holbrook.

Holbrook said a diligent investigator took charge of the case, ultimately obtaining warrants for theft by deception. He mentioned investigating cases like this can be challenging, as many agencies lack the time or resources to pursue them, leading to stale cases. 

However, this investigator dedicated substantial time and effort to follow the leads and evidence trail, combining technology, accounting, and forensics to build the case.

Walker was arrested on March 3, 2025, and booked into the Hall County Jail. 

Gainesville Police said they’ve received numerous inquiries from individuals who also fell prey to Walker, prompting other agencies across the southeast to follow up on cases in their jurisdictions.

11Alive talked to one Georgia woman, an attorney, who said she was a victim.

11Alive spoke with attorney Lakeisha Hamilton Wright, of Savannah, who shared her own experience after going public on Facebook. Since then, she said more than 50 individuals have reached out to her, claiming they were also duped by Walker.

Wright explained the mechanics of the alleged scheme. Parents would send Walker footage of their children, who he would then edit the clips into hype videos. However, this side hustle allegedly masked a larger fraudulent operation.

Weeks later, Walker would contact parents, saying he had an opportunity for their children, claiming his son played for Colorado and could take guests to games. Parents were told they only needed to pay for their flights.

Wright, a Florida State graduate and a fan of football legend Deion Sanders – who now coaches at Colorado, was excited about the opportunity for her son, a senior. She envisioned a memorable family trip but soon realized the trip would never happen. 

“I mean, it was one excuse after the other,” she said, recounting how the situation dragged on for months. Frustrated, Wright requested her $975 back. 

While she eventually received her money, she turned to social media to raise awareness about Walker’s alleged scam.

“I began a litany of Facebook posts, about ‘hey, have you been scammed by Malcolm.’ Never in my wildest dream thinking this many people,” Wright explained.  

She said her posts led to an influx of messages from around 9 states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, North Carolina, Virginia, Indiana, Texas, Georgia and Florida.

The alleged scam also involved other teams, with victims reporting promises of watching games at prestigious universities. Wright is hoping due to the number of cases and the fact the crimes crossed state lines that a state or federal agency will get involved in the investigation. 

Anyone who believes they have been a victim of this scam is  encouraged to reach out to local law enforcement and file a report.