Georgia Man Arrested for Allegedly Defrauding Families with Fake Football Recruitment Trips

Malcolm Walker, a Georgia man, is facing charges after multiple law enforcement agencies accused him of orchestrating a scheme where he allegedly took money from families under the guise of arranging football recruitment trips that ultimately never materialized. Walker has been charged with theft by deception, according to Lt. Kevin Holbrook of the Gainesville Police Department. He was taken into custody on March 3 and subsequently booked into the Hall County Jail.

The investigation began on December 18 when a Gainesville resident contacted the police to report a potential fraud. The man claimed he had sent Walker a total of $1,023 through the Cash App platform, believing the funds would facilitate a connection between his son, a football player, and college recruiters. According to the complainant, Walker represented that the money was needed to cover expenses like airfare and game entry fees for the promised recruitment opportunities.

Holbrook explained that Walker allegedly used his own family’s athletic success as a lure, telling the victim that his son had played football at Buford High School and secured a scholarship to the University of Colorado. Walker implied he could replicate that success for the man’s son, leveraging the family’s hopes for their child’s future.

“He used hope and a future to prey upon our youth, using the goodwill of their parents and guardians,” Holbrook stated.

Attempts to reach Walker for comment were unsuccessful. He did not respond to inquiries sent via email and social media.

However, in a now-deleted or privatized social media post, Walker reportedly addressed the allegations, stating, "I did not reach out to anyone for me to ever scam anyone. There are specifics that coaches and organizations look for and your child may not be that one that they are in search of. That doesn’t mean stop trying other opportunities for your child and that definitely doesn’t mean that it’s my fault that whatever dreams we may have wanted to come through, sometimes fail.”

Walker, who also appears to be involved in comedy under the name "Busta," previously used social media to showcase his supposed insights into young football players’ abilities, using the hashtag #BustaRecruits. In one video posted on February 3, he commented on a player from Thomson High School, highlighting the school’s strong athletic reputation.

"If it’s coming from Thomson High School… you already know the pedigree," Walker said, questioning why the player had not received any offers.

WAGA-TV spoke with two individuals who claim to be victims of Walker’s alleged scheme: Phyllip Becoats and B.J. Bailey, a Gainesville High School senior whom Becoats mentors. Becoats was reportedly encouraged by another coach to reach out to Walker to create a promotional video for Bailey, a promising student-athlete. Walker produced the video, and several months later, contacted Becoats, claiming coaches from the University of Colorado were interested in meeting with Bailey.

Becoats told WAGA-TV that he was influenced by Walker’s social media presence, which suggested he had strong connections within the college football world. "I’m seeing him at Colorado rubbing elbows with the coaches," Becoats said. "Plus, he’s dealing with his kid. So I’m thinking he’s a good guy."

However, the promised trip to Colorado never materialized, prompting Becoats to request a refund of $1,023. Walker reportedly promised to return the money within five days, but Becoats never received it, which led him to contact the police.

Holbrook told WAGA-TV that banking information was crucial in tracing the funds back to Walker. The investigation revealed that there was never any plan to arrange a trip to Colorado for the student-athlete.

Bailey expressed his disappointment and anger at being potentially exploited. "I don’t think that you can have a soul if you’re preying on kids that are working really hard to get what they want and then you just playing them out of their money and out of their dreams," he said.

Despite the setback with Walker, Becoats successfully connected Bailey with coaches at Maryville College in Tennessee, where he secured a full scholarship. Becoats expressed his disbelief at Walker’s alleged actions, emphasizing the hard work and dedication of young athletes. "They work so hard to get to that level, and for some guy to do something like that, to just build them up, and then they get that emotional letdown like that is just crazy," he said.

Holbrook acknowledged the complexities of investigating fraud cases, citing the time and resources required. He praised the investigator’s dedication in pursuing leads and analyzing evidence. "The investigator put forth a great deal of time and effort in following the leads and evidence trail," Holbrook said. "These are white collar cases, ones in which technology, accounting and forensics come together."

Law enforcement officials believe Walker may have defrauded victims of tens of thousands of dollars. The Gainesville police are urging anyone who has interacted with Walker to contact their local police department to file a report. Holbrook confirmed that other law enforcement agencies have also received reports about Walker. "There are cases all across the state," Holbrook told WAGA-TV. "We’ve been notified by multiple law enforcement agencies, multiple individuals who have said, ‘Hey, that’s the same guy who did this to us.’"

The case highlights the vulnerability of families who are eager to support their children’s athletic aspirations and the potential for unscrupulous individuals to exploit their hopes and dreams for personal gain.