Luther Davis pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud and aggravated identity theft charges in federal court on Monday.
ATLANTA — Former University of Alabama football player Luther Davis pleaded guilty in federal court in Atlanta on Monday to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.
Federal prosecutors said Davis, who is from Roswell, and CJ Evins, who is from Johns Creek, obtained the loans by pretending to be representatives of NFL players or impersonating actual players. Prosecutors said they used the money to pay off other loans and buy items such as jewelry and watches.
Evins also pleaded guilty, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.
One of the players Davis is believed to be impersonating is Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who is listed with his lawmaker initials in court documents. Prosecutors said Davis wore a wig and makeup to impersonate a player, including a durag when impersonating a player believed to be Penix.
They said Davis also created a fake driver’s license for a player to show to a notary to obtain a loan.
In court on Monday, prosecutors said this started in 2023, and became more complicated in 2024, when some of the secured loans were worth millions of dollars each. The scheme totaled nearly $20 million.
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“Using forged documents, fake companies, wigs, and makeup, Davis and Evins convinced lenders that they were NFL players, obtained fraudulent loans worth millions of dollars, and used the proceeds of their crime to purchase real estate and luxury goods,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “This scheme highlights that anyone can be a target for identity theft, and my office will investigate and prosecute fraudsters who steal identities to defraud others.”
Davis faces up to five years in prison on the wire fraud charge and up to two years on the identity theft charge. The sentencing hearing will be held on October 8.
Davis’ attorney could not say anything more to reporters after the hearing.
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