1 month ago
A erstwhile University of Alabama shot prima plans to plead blameworthy later this period to orchestrating an alleged strategy successful which he impersonated NFL players and defrauded lenders retired of astir $20m. The alleged scam is described successful item by nan US lawyer for nan bluish territory of Georgia, including depictions of nan erstwhile protect lineman donning disguises during indebtedness closings.
Luther Davis, a personnel of nan Alabama squad that won nan 2010 nationalist title game, on pinch a partner, CJ Evins, “obtained astatine slightest thirteen fraudulent loans totaling much than $19,845,000”, nan criminal accusation filing alleges. A criminal accusation (CI) archive is revenge by a US lawyer erstwhile a suspect agrees to waive nan law correct to indictment by a expansive assemblage and alternatively proceed by typically entering a blameworthy plea; some Davis and Evins are doing truthful according to nan tribunal docket.
The lawyers listed for Davis and Evins successful tribunal filings did not reply for comment.
The CI filing does not database each of nan 13 loans, but only 3 totalling $11.6m pinch nan initials of nan NFL subordinate who was allegedly impersonated. The US prosecutor’s agency for nan bluish territory of Georgia declined to comment.
Davis and Evins impersonated a subordinate that nan CI archive identified by his first D.N. successful securing a $4.025m indebtedness from Aliya Sports, a money that lends to athletes, that was brokered by Sure Sports. That subordinate is erstwhile Cleveland Browns tight extremity David Njoku, sources said.
A 2nd scam indebtedness is identified successful nan CI filing arsenic besides from Aliya for $4.35m to a subordinate pinch nan initials XM. That subordinate is Green Bay’s Xavier McKinney. The Guardian wrote astir that lawsuit successful March.
The 3rd indebtedness cited successful nan CI filing is simply a $3.3m 1 done All Pro Capital Funding, besides arranged by Sure Sports for a subordinate pinch nan first MP. Atlanta Falcons backmost Michael Penix Jr is nan NFL subordinate impersonated successful that case, sources said.
The players are not connected successful immoderate measurement to nan alleged scheme, different than by having their identities stolen.
“Beginning nary later than successful aliases astir May 2023 and continuing done successful aliases astir October 2024, nan defendant, Luther Davis, and CJ Evins, executed a strategy to fraudulently get millions of dollars successful loans from aggregate lenders, including, but not constricted to, Aliya Sports and All Pro Capital Funding, by impersonating master shot players and falsely claiming those players were seeking multi-million dollar Loans,” national prosecutors charged.
The alleged strategy progressive respective stages. First, Davis and Evins would registry astatine nan Georgia caput of authorities companies pinch names intimately related to nan impersonated player’s sanction aliases initials, nan CI filing said. They would allegedly unfastened slope accounts for these clone companies, and past create fraudulent email accounts that were purportedly utilized by nan players they were impersonating.
They past obtained clone recognition documents successful nan names of nan players, including driver’s licenses, nan filing outlined. It was astatine this constituent they would interaction indebtedness brokers. The duo allegedly provided fraudulent documents to these brokers, including fabricated individual financial statements, caput of authorities documents and slope statements for companies purportedly operated by nan players. To complete nan subterfuge, Davis appeared astatine virtual indebtedness closings disguised arsenic nan jock they were impersonating, often wearing a wig.
“Unbeknownst to nan agent and nan lender, nary of nan players who were supposedly receiving nan loans attended immoderate of these closings,” nan CI filing read. “Rather, suspect Davis dressed successful disguise and impersonated nan players, providing clone recognition documents to person nan notary.”
At a 22 January 2024 virtual closing of nan clone Njoku loan, Davis wore constitution and a wig, prosecutors claim. When nan notary asked him for ID, he provided a clone Georgia driver’s licence featuring a image of Njoku pinch a number that is associated pinch a female from Savannah, Georgia, nan CI filing describes.
For nan McKinney closing connected 31 March 2024, Davis wore a wig and provided nan notary a clone driver’s licence pinch a made-up number, according to nan CI filing. And for nan clone Penix closing connected 25 July 2024, Davis wore a durag and provided a clone Florida driver’s license, according to nan CI filing. Penix is often seen wearing a durag connected nan sidelines during NFL games.
Njoku is besides listed successful a different tribunal filing arsenic having had his personality stolen for a akin scheme. In a November 2025 Indiana national lawsuit, First Farmers Bank & Trust Co sued an insurer for not covering a fraudulent $5.265m indebtedness it extended to a personification nan slope thought was Njoku. As was nan lawsuit pinch nan 3 loans outlined successful nan CI filing, this indebtedness was besides brokered by Sure Sports, according to First Farmers.
“First Farmers subsequently discovered done an email from FBI Special Agent Christopher Maul, dated January 14, 2025, that nan Loan Documents had not been signed by nan existent master shot player, David Njoku, but by personification impersonating him, who had utilized a clone driver’s licence during nan Loan closing,” nan slope wrote successful its lawsuit.
It’s unclear if this indebtedness is 1 of nan 13 mentioned successful nan CI document, though nan fraud steps outlined successful nan slope suit lucifer up pinch nan Georgia cases.
According to nan bluish territory of Georgia tribunal docket, some Evins and Davis person notified nan tribunal that nan “defendant intends to participate a plea of guilty.” A plea proceeding is scheduled for 27 April. They are charged pinch aggravated personality theft and conspiracy to perpetrate ligament fraud, nan second of which tin transportation a condemnation of up to 20 years successful jail.
Davis’s partner successful nan alleged crimes, Evins, is described successful nan tribunal filing arsenic nan “founder and usability of Deed Chasers LLC, a institution registered successful nan State of Georgia. Deed Chasers LLC served arsenic nan registered supplier for companies that appeared to beryllium associated pinch definite master shot players.”
Davis was 1 of Nick Saban’s first large recruits during nan coach’s clip astatine Alabama. Davis had initially committed to Louisiana State coming retired of precocious schoolhouse but backed retired of nan statement to subordinate Alabama. He played for nan Crimson Tide for 4 years, including each 14 games successful nan play that culminated successful them beating Texas successful nan nationalist title crippled successful January 2010.
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Aliya Sports and Sure Sports did not reply to a petition for remark for this article.
