Luther Davis Impersonated Michael Penix Jr., David Njoku, Xavier McKinney in $19.8M Loan Fraud

Federal prosecutors say former Alabama football player Luther Davis used wigs, makeup, and fake identification to impersonate NFL players in order to secure loans, according to federal court records described by ESPN and The Guardian.

“A surprising fraud case linked to the Alabama Crimson Tide football team has emerged, as former defensive lineman Luther Davis is accused of orchestrating a massive loan-fraud scheme involving several NFL players”

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The alleged scheme ran from May 2023 until October 2024, with prosecutors alleging Davis pretended to be three different NFL players to secure loans from multiple lending agencies, as ESPN reported.

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ESPN said the players whose identities were allegedly used were Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr., former Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku, and Green Bay Packers safety Xavier McKinney.

The Guardian likewise described the case as one in which Davis and a partner, CJ Evins, “obtained at least thirteen fraudulent loans totaling more than $19,845,000,” citing a criminal information filing.

Prosecutors allege that “none of the players had authorized the loans,” and that “fake email accounts were created without their knowledge,” according to ESPN.

The Guardian added that “Unbeknownst to the broker and the lender, none of the players who were supposedly receiving the loans attended any of these closings,” and that “Rather, defendant Davis dressed in disguise and impersonated the players, providing fake identification documents to convince the notary.”

The case is framed as a federal fraud matter in the Northern District of Georgia, with WPEC reporting Davis was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

Court documents described by ESPN and The Guardian lay out a multi-step process that prosecutors say Davis and CJ Evins used to make the impersonations look legitimate to lenders and notaries.

ESPN said the court documents state that Davis and Evins used the identities of three NFL players—“D.N.,” “X.M.” and “M.P.”—to apply for the loans, and that “fake email accounts were created without their knowledge.”

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To convince lenders, prosecutors allege Davis and Evins created “fabricated personal financial statements, Secretary of State documents, and bank statements for companies purportedly operated by the players,” as ESPN quoted from the filing.

ESPN also said the document filed March 19 in Atlanta alleges that Davis and Evins registered companies similar to the names of the players to accomplish this.

The Guardian described the alleged stages as starting with registering at the Georgia secretary of state companies with names closely related to the impersonated player’s name or initials, then opening bank accounts for those fake companies, and then creating fraudulent email accounts.

The Guardian said the next step was obtaining fake identification documents in the names of the players, including driver’s licenses, before contacting loan brokers.

It then described Davis appearing at virtual loan closings disguised as the athlete he was impersonating, often wearing a wig, and providing fake identification documents to convince the notary.

WPEC similarly said prosecutors allege Davis helped create fake companies, bank accounts, email addresses and identification documents that appeared to be connected to specific NFL players, and that the impersonations continued through virtual loan closings where Davis is accused of disguising himself to mislead lenders and notaries.

ESPN and The Guardian both describe specific loan closings tied to the impersonated identities, including the dates, locations, and the disguises prosecutors say Davis used.

“A former Alabama football player faces charges of wire fraud and identity theft after he allegedly used wigs and fake driver's licenses to impersonate NFL players for the purpose of securing nearly $20 million in loans, according to federal court records”

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ESPN said Davis allegedly wore makeup and a wig to impersonate Njoku during a recorded video conference to close a loan for a $4 million promissory note on Jan. 22, 2024, with lender Aliya Sports Finance and underwriter Sure Sports.

ESPN added that the real D.N. “never had a Georgia driver's license,” and that the license number Davis provided was for a woman in Savannah, Georgia.

ESPN reported that two months later, Sure Sports emailed Davis believing he was McKinney to sign for a $4.4 million loan at the Ritz-Carlton in New York City on April 1, 2024.

ESPN also said that on July 26, 2024, Sure Sports and All-Pro Capital Funding set up a video conference to close a loan with “M.P.” at a SpringHill Suites in Buford, Georgia, and that Davis allegedly showed up impersonating Penix to secure a $3.3 million promissory note from All-Pro Capital.

The Guardian provided parallel details, describing a 22 January 2024 virtual closing of the fake Njoku loan where Davis wore makeup and a wig and provided a fake Georgia driver’s license featuring a picture of Njoku with a number associated with a woman from Savannah, Georgia.

The Guardian also described the McKinney closing on 31 March 2024 where Davis wore a wig and provided a fake driver’s license with a made-up number, and the fake Penix closing on 25 July 2024 where Davis wore a durag and provided a fake Florida driver’s license.

WPEC said prosecutors allege the scheme resulted in at least 13 fraudulent loans totaling more than $19.8 million, and that the funds were allegedly deposited into accounts controlled by Davis and his associate and later used for real estate, vehicles, and personal purchases.

Multiple outlets reported that Davis and his partner CJ Evins are headed toward plea proceedings, with ESPN and The Guardian both pointing to an April 27 court date.

ESPN said plea hearings are scheduled for April 27 for Davis and CJ Evins, and that Evins is listed in a separate filing and faces wire fraud and identity theft charges in the same case.

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ESPN reported that Evins' attorney, Ben Alper, told ESPN in an email Thursday his client is scheduled to plead guilty, while Davis' attorney did not immediately respond to an ESPN request for comment.

The Guardian described the criminal information filing as a document used when a defendant waives the right to indictment by a grand jury, “clearing the way for the criminal process to begin,” and said both Davis and Evins are doing so according to the court docket.

WTVY said a court filing shows Davis intends to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft during an April 27 hearing.

ESPN also described the March 19 filing labeled a “criminal information,” and said it often leads to a guilty plea or plea bargain.

The Guardian added that the US prosecutor’s office for the northern district of Georgia declined to comment, and that lawyers listed for Davis and Evins in court filings did not reply for comment.

Separately, ESPN reported that Aliya sued Sure Sports in Florida's 11th Circuit Court in February 2025 alleging negligence, gross negligence, negligent misrepresentation and unjust enrichment, and that the case is still pending, while Aliya attorney Josh Rubens wrote that the fund “cannot comment further given the pending litigation.”

The alleged fraud has prompted scrutiny not only of the defendants but also of the lending and brokerage ecosystem described in the court filings, with outlets naming specific companies and disputes.

“A former college football player is facing serious federal charges after allegedly orchestrating a scheme that netted nearly $20 million by impersonating NFL athletes”

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ESPN said Aliya sued Sure Sports in Florida's 11th Circuit Court in February 2025 alleging negligence, gross negligence, negligent misrepresentation and unjust enrichment, and that the case is still pending.

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ESPN quoted Aliya attorney Josh Rubens writing in an email that “The Aliya Sports Finance Fund, L.P. is working to protect its investors from improper conduct that has caused damage to the fund,” and that “The fund cannot comment further given the pending litigation.”

ESPN also said Darren Heitner, the attorney representing Sure Sports, declined comment.

The Guardian described the Aliya and Sure Sports connections in the criminal information, stating that Davis and Evins impersonated a player identified by the initial D.N. in securing a $4.025m loan from Aliya Sports, brokered by Sure Sports, and that a second scam loan was identified as $4.35m from Aliya for XM.

The Guardian also said the third loan cited in the CI filing was a $3.3m one through All Pro Capital Funding, arranged by Sure Sports for a player with the initial MP, and it identified the impersonated player as Michael Penix Jr.

WPEC added that the court filing includes a forfeiture request seeking cash and real estate tied to the alleged proceeds of the fraud.

Together, the reporting shows that the criminal case is proceeding alongside civil litigation and potential forfeiture requests, with the next major milestone being the April 27 plea hearings described by ESPN and WTVY.