Former Alabama football player Luther Davis will plead guilty to wire fraud and identity theft after allegedly using wigs and fake IDs to impersonate NFL stars in a nearly $20 million loan scheme, according to The Guardian.
Federal prosecutors in Georgia accused Davis of pretending to be three different NFL players between May of 2023 and October of 2024, according to court filings obtained by the Daily Mail. As first reported by The Guardian, those three players included Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr., former Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku and Green Bay Packers safety Xavier McKinney.
Federal online court files do not contain the names of the victimized NFL players in question. The Daily Mail has sought comment from agents representing Penix, Njoku and McKinney.
‘As a result of their scheme, Evins and Davis fraudulently obtained at least thirteen fraudulent loans totaling more than $19,845,000,’ read the criminal information (CI) filing obtained by the Daily Mail.
A CI filing is often used when a Defendant waives their constitutional right to a grand jury indictment and instead proceeds with a guilty plea.
Davis, a defensive lineman on the Crimson Tide’s 2009 championship team, would allegedly show up at loan closings ‘dressed in disguise’ with a fake driver’s license in hand to trick lenders, according to prosecutors.
Luther Davis, a defensive lineman on the Crimson Tide’s 2009 championship team (pictured), would allegedly show up at loan closings ‘dressed in disguise’ with a fake driver’s license
Michael Penix was among the players impersonated by Davis, according to one report
Njoku was reportedly impersonated by Davis, who wore a wig to deceive lenders
He allegedly donned makeup and a wig to impersonate Njoku in a 2024 video conference call, in which he secured a $4 million promissory note. Later, prosecutors claimed, he wore a durag to impersonate Penix, who is often seen wearing that exact headcovering.
Disguised as McKinney, Davis allegedly signed for a $4.4 million loan at the Ritz-Carlton in New York City on April Fool’s Day in 2024. That July, Davis secured a $3.3 million promissory note from another lender over a video conference call, according to prosecutors.
‘Unbeknownst to the broker and the lender, none of the players who were supposedly receiving the loans attended any of these closings,’ the CI filing read. ‘Rather, defendant Davis dressed in disguise and impersonated the players, providing fake identification documents to convince the notary.’
Davis’ alleged co-conspirator, CJ Evins, will plead guilty in the case, his attorney, Benjamin Alper, told The Daily Mail. Alper declined further comment.
The Daily Mail has also sought comment from Davis’ attorney.
McKinney was thought to have received a seven-figure loan until the plan was revealed
Both Defendants are due back in court on April 27.
In a related case, lender Aliya Sports Finance has sued underwriter Sure Sports, alleging negligence, gross negligence, negligent misrepresentation and unjust enrichment, but that trial is still pending in Florida.
‘The Aliya Sports Finance Fund, L.P. is working to protect its investors from improper conduct that has caused damage to the fund,’ Aliya attorney Josh Rubens told ESPN. ‘The fund cannot comment further given the pending litigation.’
Sure Sports has declined to comment on the case.
Davis was once a top-150 high school recruit before agreeing to join Alabama, where he’d play from 2007 to 2010. He’d go on to record 47 tackles and win a national championship in 2009.
Years later, he was accused of serving as a go-between for five SEC players and their NFL agents in violation of NCAA rules at the time.
