Former Alabama player faces charges over $20m NFL identity fraud scheme
Former Alabama defensive end Luther Davis faces federal charges after allegedly using disguises to impersonate NFL players and secure nearly $20m (£16m) in fraudulent loans.
Court records show prosecutors accuse the 40-year-old of pretending to be three prominent American football stars between May 2023 and October 2024.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr, Green Bay Packers safety Xavier McKinney and former Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku were the reported targets.
None of the targeted athletes authorised the transactions or had any knowledge of the fake email accounts created in their names.
Elaborate disguise tactics
To convince lending agencies, Davis and his partner CJ Evins allegedly fabricated personal financial statements and bank records.
The court documents state the pair registered companies with names similar to those of the actual athletes to facilitate the deception.
Federal prosecutors allege the former collegiate athlete would attend loan closings dressed in disguise, utilising fake driver’s licences to fool notaries and lenders.
During one recorded video conference in January 2024, the accused reportedly wore makeup and a wig to impersonate the former Cleveland tight end.
That specific incident secured a $4m (£3.2m) promissory note with Aliya Sports Finance and underwriter Sure Sports.
Cross-country operation
The fraudulent scheme extended beyond Georgia, with court filings detailing a trip to New York City two months later.
Believing they were meeting the Packers defensive back, lenders emailed the accused to sign for a $4.4m (£3.5m) loan at a Ritz-Carlton hotel.
The duo reportedly flew from Atlanta to New York to conduct a video conference with representatives from the financial institutions.
A further $3.3m (£2.6m) loan was allegedly secured in July 2024 when the primary suspect showed up at a Georgia hotel impersonating the Falcons rookie quarterback.
Upcoming legal proceedings
Plea hearings for both men are scheduled to take place on 27 April.
An attorney for Evins confirmed in an email that his client plans to plead guilty to wire fraud and identity theft charges.
Legal representatives for the former Crimson Tide player have not yet issued a public comment regarding the allegations.
The Guardian initially identified the three NFL stars targeted in the federal filings, which originally referred to the victims only by their initials.
