Ex-University of Alabama Player Pleads Guilty to Fraud Scheme
A former University of Alabama defensive tackle, Luther Davis, has admitted to defrauding investors of millions by impersonating NFL athletes, using elaborate disguises including makeup and wigs. Davis, 37, entered guilty pleas on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft during a federal court session in Atlanta.
CJ Evins, 29, who collaborated with Davis in the fraudulent activities, also pleaded guilty to the same charges. After the court hearing, neither Davis nor Evins provided any comments. The sentencing for Davis is slated for October, while Evins will face sentencing in August. Although the potential imprisonment could reach seven years, plea agreements suggest prosecutors will propose reduced sentences.
Assistant U.S. Attorney C. Brock Brockington detailed how Davis and Evins deceived lenders by creating fake bank and email accounts, posing as either representatives or the NFL players themselves. The duo eventually escalated to impersonating athletes with more lucrative contracts in their efforts to secure loans.
The fraudulent behavior was exposed when player contracts, used as loan collateral, were identified as fake by a players’ union security team. This discovery led the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta to file a criminal complaint last month against the two men.
In 2024, Davis conducted video calls with investors pretending to be three different NFL players, employing a range of disguises such as wigs, makeup, and do-rag-style head coverings. Prosecutors have only disclosed the involved players by their initials, clarifying that none of them had authorized the loan acquisitions.
To further the deception, fake driver’s licenses featuring images of the players taken from online sources were used. The fraudulent scheme amassed nearly $20 million, which Davis and Evins partly utilized to purchase real estate, jewelry, and vehicles, as outlined in the criminal complaint.
Notably, Davis was part of the Alabama Crimson Tide’s national championship team in 2010.
