Prosecutors Say Luther Davis Used Makeup and Wig to Impersonate NFL Players in $20M Fraud

Federal prosecutors say Luther Davis, a former defensive tackle at the University of Alabama, used makeup and a wig to impersonate NFL players in a scheme prosecutors describe as a $20M fraud.

The Associated Press reports that in early 2024 Davis got on a video call from a suburban Atlanta hotel to finalize a $4 million loan, with prosecutors saying he convinced investors the money was for a player in the NFL.

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The AP says the ruse worked and that Davis later “would go on to don disguises — a wig once, and a do-rag-style head covering another time — again in March and July to impersonate two other NFL players on video calls and bilk millions more in loans.”

Prosecutors say Davis and CJ Evins are charged with one count each of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, and both pleaded not guilty in March.

The AP adds that the complaint says none of the NFL players had authorized Davis and Evins to obtain loans.

Prosecutors also say Davis used fake driver’s licenses with photos of the players that could be found online, and that the scheme brought in nearly $20 million from at least 13 fraudulent loans used to buy real estate, jewelry and cars.

The case is being handled in federal court in Atlanta, where prosecutors say Davis and CJ Evins carried out impersonations across multiple months in 2024.

The New York Times reports that the U.S. Attorney’s Office claimed in a March filing that Davis and Evins wore wigs and makeup to impersonate players identified only as X.M., D.N. and M.P. between May 2023 and October 2024.

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The New York Times says that when lenders set up Zoom calls with the supposed athletes and notaries to finalize loan authorizations, Davis allegedly dressed up and provided fake IDs and financial documents to conceal his identity.

It also says those documents included stolen and fabricated driver’s license numbers featuring pictures of the players that were “easily found online.”

The Associated Press says Davis and Evins are scheduled to return to court on April 27 to enter a guilty plea, and it notes that an email and call to Davis’ attorney, Gabe Banks, were not immediately returned.

The Atlanta News First article similarly states that Davis and Evins are scheduled to return to court on April 27 to enter a guilty plea, and it identifies the location as ATLANTA, Ga.

Prosecutors say the scheme relied on impersonating multiple NFL players, but the sources describe the identities in different ways.

The Associated Press says the complaint “only identifies the NFL players by their initials,” and it states that Davis and Evins are charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

The New York Times adds that the players are identified only as X.M., D.N. and M.P., and it says none of those players is accused of criminal activity.

The New York Times also names Xavier McKinney, a Green Bay Packers safety, as the player whose initials are “X.M.” and says he is named in a Florida lawsuit filed by ASFF against Sure Sport for alleged negligence.

The New York Times reports that the Georgia case provides details about the impersonation of the player it calls M.P., alleging Davis wore “a durag-style head covering” as a disguise.

The Atlanta News First article says “Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. was impersonated” and that one of the three players was Penix, according to The Guardian.

The sources describe how lenders were drawn into the fraud and what the money was used for, while also tying the case to other litigation.

The New York Times says Davis and Evins schemed to obtain at least 13 loans from lenders who believed they were speaking directly with those players, and it names lenders Aliya Sports Finance Fund and All Pro Capital Funding, as well as Sure Sports.

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It reports that when lenders set up Zoom calls with the supposed athletes and notaries, Davis allegedly dressed up and provided fake IDs and financial documents, including stolen and fabricated driver’s license numbers featuring pictures of the players that were “easily found online.”

The New York Times says that once the loans were approved, prosecutors said the funds flowed through a network of sham businesses the pair controlled and into their personal accounts, and it states that Davis and Evins allegedly used that money to purchase real estate, vehicles and jewelry.

The Associated Press similarly says the scheme brought in nearly $20 million from at least 13 fraudulent loans that Davis and Evins used to buy real estate, jewelry and cars.

The New York Times also adds that the Georgia case includes a Florida lawsuit context, stating that Xavier McKinney is named in a Florida lawsuit ASFF recently filed against Sure Sport for alleged negligence.

The reporting also captures the posture of the defendants and the status of the defendants’ attorneys’ responses.

“FILE - Alabama's Luther Davis (96) reacts after their 32-13 win over Florida in the SEC championship NCAA college football game at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta Saturday, Dec”

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The Associated Press says an email and call to Davis’ attorney, Gabe Banks, were not immediately returned, while Evins’ attorney, Benjamin Alper, confirmed his client is scheduled to plead guilty but said he had no additional comment.

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The Associated Press states that Davis and Evins both pleaded not guilty in March and are scheduled to return to court on April 27 to enter a guilty plea, according to court filings.

The New York Times similarly says Evins’ lawyer, Benjamin Alper, confirmed his client intends to plead guilty, and it adds that the U.S. Attorney’s Office declined to comment.

It also states that Davis will next appear in court for a plea hearing April 27, with Evins set for his own plea hearing a half-hour later.

The New York Times provides background on Davis, stating that he won a national championship with the Crimson Tide in 2010 and that he never played in the NFL.