Former Alabama tackle accused of wearing makeup, wigs to impersonate NFL players in $20M scheme

In a bizarre case of identity theft and fraud, former University of Alabama defensive tackle Luther Davis has been charged with impersonating NFL players to secure millions in fraudulent loans. Federal prosecutors in Atlanta detailed how Davis donned wigs and makeup to pose as professional athletes during video calls with unsuspecting investors.

According to the criminal complaint filed last month by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta, Davis began his scheme in early 2024 at an upscale suburban Atlanta hotel. Wearing makeup and a wig, he impersonated an NFL player during a video call and successfully secured a $4 million loan from investors who believed they were financing a legitimate professional athlete.

The elaborate deception didn’t stop there. Prosecutors allege that Davis repeated the ruse in March and July, using different disguises—including a do-rag-style head covering—to impersonate two other NFL players during video calls, securing millions more in fraudulent loans. The complaint does not specify exactly how these disguises helped Davis convincingly assume the identities of three different players, who are identified only by their initials in court documents.

Davis didn’t act alone. Federal authorities named CJ Evins as his accomplice in the scheme. Both men face charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Though they initially pleaded not guilty in March, court filings indicate they are scheduled to return to court on April 27 to enter guilty pleas.

When contacted about the case, Evins’ attorney Benjamin Alper confirmed his client’s intention to plead guilty but declined to provide additional comments. Davis’ attorney, Gabe Banks, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The criminal complaint emphasizes that none of the impersonated NFL players had authorized Davis and Evins to obtain loans in their names. Beyond the disguises, prosecutors say Davis bolstered his deception by presenting fake driver’s licenses featuring photos of the players that he had found online.

The scope of the fraud is substantial. According to federal prosecutors, the scheme netted nearly $20 million from at least 13 fraudulent loans. Davis and Evins allegedly used these ill-gotten funds to finance lavish purchases including real estate, jewelry, and cars.

The case represents a dramatic fall from grace for Davis, who was once a celebrated college athlete. He was part of the University of Alabama’s national championship team in 2010, playing as a defensive tackle for the storied Crimson Tide program.

This type of fraud scheme highlights growing concerns about identity theft in the digital age, particularly targeting high-profile individuals like professional athletes. The case demonstrates how relatively simple disguises, combined with falsified documents, can be used to execute sophisticated financial crimes worth millions of dollars.

The incident also raises questions about verification protocols used by financial institutions when approving large loans, especially those purportedly involving professional athletes whose identities might be more easily researched and authenticated.

As this case proceeds toward apparent guilty pleas, it serves as a cautionary tale about the vulnerabilities in remote financial transactions and the creative lengths to which fraudsters will go to exploit those weaknesses. The financial industry continues to grapple with balancing convenient digital services against the need for robust security measures to prevent similar impersonation schemes.