Former Alabama Crimson Tide defensive tackle Luther Davis pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. The 37-year-old appeared in federal court in Atlanta to enter these pleas, alongside his accomplice, 29-year-old CJ Evins, who also pleaded guilty to the same two charges. The pair faced accusations from federal prosecutors regarding a sophisticated and lengthy fraud scheme that involved impersonating high-profile NFL athletes to secure millions of dollars in loans.
According to Fox News, the scale of this operation is quite significant, as prosecutors detailed that Davis and Evins successfully obtained at least thirteen fraudulent loans totaling more than $19,845,000. According to the criminal information filing, the men utilized a combination of fake bank accounts and email accounts to deceive lenders.
By pretending to be either the professional athletes themselves or representatives acting on their behalf, they were able to secure these funds under false pretenses. Assistant U.S. Attorney C. Brock Brockington noted in court that the pair specifically targeted players with high-profile status and larger contracts to maximize the potential of their scheme.
Winning a national championship just to end up in a wig for fraud is wild
The methods used to pull this off were, frankly, bizarre. Throughout 2024, Davis reportedly engaged in multiple video calls with potential investors while wearing various disguises to solidify the deception. Prosecutors stated that Davis wore makeup and a wig on one occasion, a different wig on a second call, and a do-rag style head covering during a third interaction.
These calls were intended to mimic three different NFL players, specifically identified in reports as Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr., former Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku, and Green Bay Packers safety Xavier McKinney. Davis would even allegedly show up at actual loan closings while dressed in these disguises, often carrying fake driver’s licenses to complete the ruse. It is interesting to look at the background of Davis, who was once a highly touted top-150 high school recruit.
He joined Alabama and played there from 2007 to 2010, recording 47 tackles and contributing to the Crimson Tide’s national championship team in 2009. His history with professional sports circles goes back further than this current case, as reports from 2013 suggested he was acting as an intermediary between college football stars and various NFL agents and financial advisers, which was a violation of NCAA rules at the time.
He declined to comment on those allegations back then, and he similarly had no comment for the press as he left court this week alongside Evins. The fraud eventually unraveled when security personnel for a players’ union discovered that fraudulent player contracts had been used as collateral for the loans. This led to a criminal complaint being filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta last month.
The criminal information filing used in this case indicates that both defendants have waived their constitutional right to a grand jury indictment to move forward with their guilty pleas. Both men are currently scheduled to return to court on April 27. The fallout of this scheme extends into the financial sector as well. There is currently a related case in Florida where the lender Aliya Sports Finance has sued the underwriter Sure Sports.
The lawsuit alleges negligence, gross negligence, negligent misrepresentation, and unjust enrichment on the part of the underwriter. When asked about the situation, attorney Josh Rubens, who represents Aliya Sports Finance, stated, “The Aliya Sports Finance Fund, L.P. is working to protect its investors from improper conduct that has caused damage to the fund.” He added, “The fund cannot comment further given the pending litigation.” Sure Sports has declined to provide any comment regarding the ongoing case.
It is clear that the money obtained through these fraudulent loans was used for significant personal purchases.
Published: Apr 28, 2026 03:45 pm