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Ex-Alabama Player to Plead Guilty in $20 Million NFL Identity Loan Scheme

Prosecutors say the plot used disguises at virtual closings to steal nearly $20 million from lenders.

Overview

  • Davis and co-defendant CJ Evins are scheduled for an April 27 plea hearing in Atlanta, and Evins’ attorney said Thursday he will plead guilty.
  • Federal filings allege at least 13 fraudulent loans totaling about $19,845,000 between May 2023 and October 2024.
  • Investigators say the pair registered lookalike companies, opened bank accounts and email addresses, forged IDs, and had Davis appear in wigs, makeup, or a durag to fool notaries on video calls.
  • Examples in the filings include a $4.025 million loan in David Njoku’s name and a $4.35 million loan tied to Xavier McKinney from Aliya Sports, plus a $3.3 million loan tied to Michael Penix Jr. from All Pro Capital, and the players did not authorize any loans.
  • Davis and Evins face conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, and prosecutors filed a March criminal information after they waived grand-jury indictment, a step that often precedes guilty pleas and carries long potential prison terms.