Luther Davis, a former University of Alabama football player, pleaded guilty in federal court on Monday to defrauding investors by impersonating NFL players. According to CBS News, Davis used makeup and wigs to disguise himself as Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr., former Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku, and Green Bay Packers safety Xavier McKinney during video calls with potential investors.
Key Takeaways
A former University of Alabama football player pleaded guilty to defrauding investors by impersonating NFL players using disguises and fake documents. Luther Davis and his accomplice, CJ Evins, admitted guilt in federal court on charges related to wire fraud and identity theft. The scheme involved multiple video calls where Davis used wigs, makeup, and do-rags to pose as three different NFL players: Michael Penix Jr., David Njoku, and Xavier McKinney.
The scheme involved obtaining nearly $20 million through fraudulent loans. As reported by HuffPost, Davis and his accomplice, CJ Evins, used fake driver's licenses and bank accounts to convince lenders they were acting on behalf of or as the athletes themselves. The funds obtained from these loans were used to purchase real estate, jewelry, and cars.
The court documents identified the players involved only by initials: "D.N.," "X.M.," and "M.P." However, CBS News reported that these correspond to David Njoku, Xavier McKinney, and Michael Penix Jr. The NFL players were not aware of or authorized Davis and Evins to obtain loans in their names.
Both defendants entered guilty pleas to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. According to Fox News, Assistant U.S. Attorney C. Brock Brockington stated that the men used fake bank accounts and email accounts as part of their scheme. Sentencing for Davis is scheduled for October, while Evins will be sentenced in August.
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