Luther Davis, a former American football player at the University of Alabama, is facing serious charges. He is accused of wire fraud and identity theft after allegedly impersonating NFL players to obtain nearly $20 million in loans.
Federal court records indicate Davis allegedly used wigs and fake driver’s licenses in the scheme. The alleged impersonations took place from May 2023 until October 2024.
The Alleged Victims
The NFL players whose identities were allegedly stolen are Michael Penix Jr. of the Atlanta Falcons, David Njoku, formerly of the Cleveland Browns, and Xavier McKinney of the Green Bay Packers.
According to court documents, none of the players authorised the loans. Fake email accounts were also reportedly created without their knowledge.
Details of the Alleged Scheme
Davis and CJ Evins, his alleged partner, used the identities of the three NFL players to apply for the loans. The players were referred to as “D.N.,” “X.M.” and “M.P.” in initial court filings before being identified as Njoku, McKinney and Penix respectively.
Prosecutors allege Davis and Evins created fabricated financial statements and bank statements for companies purportedly operated by the players to convince lenders. They are also accused of registering companies with names similar to those of the players.
Federal prosecutors stated that Davis would disguise himself to impersonate the players at loan closings. This allegedly included using fake driver’s licenses to deceive lenders and a notary public. Davis allegedly wore makeup and a wig to impersonate Njoku during a recorded video conference on January 22, 2024, to close a loan for a $4 million promissory note.
The real D.N. never possessed a Georgia driver’s license. The license number Davis provided belonged to a woman in Savannah, Georgia.
Key Dates and Events
- January 22, 2024: Davis allegedly impersonated Njoku via video conference to secure a $4 million loan.
- April 1, 2024: Davis and Evins allegedly flew to New York to meet with lenders, with Davis impersonating McKinney.
- July 26, 2024: Davis allegedly impersonated Penix in a video conference to secure a $3.3 million loan.
Legal Proceedings
Plea hearings are scheduled for April 27 for Davis and Evins. Evins’ attorney has stated that his client is scheduled to plead guilty to wire fraud and identity theft charges.
Davis was later identified in a Florida civil lawsuit as McKinney.
Evins is listed in a separate filing alleging wire fraud and identity theft charges in the same case.