Overview
- Luther Davis and CJ Evins, who entered guilty pleas Monday in federal court in Atlanta, admitted to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.
- Prosecutors said the pair posed as NFL players on video calls using wigs, makeup and head coverings and backed it up with fake driver’s licenses, shell companies, and bogus bank and email accounts.
- Court filings say they secured nearly $20 million through at least 13 fraudulent loans and spent proceeds on real estate, jewelry, cars and paying down other balances.
- Each defendant faces up to seven years in prison, with sentencing set for Aug. 4 for Evins and Oct. 8 for Davis, and prosecutors have agreed to recommend lower terms under their plea deals.
- The scheme surfaced after a players’ union flagged real contracts used as collateral, the FBI investigation continues, and reporting has identified Michael Penix Jr., David Njoku and Xavier McKinney as impersonated athletes who did not authorize any loans.