Former Alabama Star Impersonated Three NFL Players to Steal Nearly $20 Million, Feds Say
Luther Davis, who played defensive line for Alabama from 2007 to 2010, allegedly pulled off one of the wildest fraud schemes in recent memory. The former Crimson Tide player impersonated three active NFL players, created fake documents, wore wigs and makeup to loan closings, and walked away with nearly $20 million in illegally obtained funds. Federal prosecutors have charged him with wire fraud and identity theft.
Here's how brazen this got: Davis didn't just fake some paperwork. He allegedly posed as Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr., former Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku, and Green Bay Packers defensive back Xavier McKinney to take out 13 separate loans between May 2023 and October 2024. At one loan closing, Davis actually showed up in makeup and a wig pretending to be Njoku to secure a $4 million loan. Two months later, he allegedly appeared at a New York City meeting with a wig and fake driver's license, this time impersonating McKinney for a $4.4 million deal. In late July 2024, he tried the same move in Georgia as Penix Jr., offering a forged ID for a $3.3 million loan.
🎲 Want to Make Tonight's Game More Interesting?
Kalshi lets you trade on real sports outcomes — not just spreads. It's the only federally regulated prediction market in the US, and it's available right here in Washington state.
New users get a FREE $10 just for signing up — no deposit required to claim it.
👉 Claim Your Free $10 at KalshiThe Setup That Actually Worked
Davis and his co-conspirator, Georgia business owner CJ Evins, didn't just wing it. According to court documents, they created fabricated personal financial statements, Secretary of State documents, and bank statements. They made fake driver's licenses with online headshots of the actual players and fraudulent email accounts. Lenders wired more than $19.8 million to business accounts that Davis and Evins had set up in the players' names, then transferred the money to accounts for businesses they actually controlled. None of the three NFL players authorized any of these transactions or had any idea this was happening.
What's Next
Davis is due in court on April 27, where he is expected to plead guilty. Evins also intends to plead guilty at the same hearing. This isn't Davis's first brush with legal trouble either. Back in 2013, he was accused of violating NCAA rules by serving as a middleman moving impermissible benefits between college players and NFL agents. This time, the stakes are way higher.
🐦 What fans are saying on X
See the latest reactions and highlights from Seattle fans about .
View X conversation →This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.