Ex-Alabama Star, Partner Plead Guilty to $20M NFL Scam

0:00A former University of Alabama defensive tackle and his partner just pleaded guilty to a wild scam that ripped off investors for nearly $20 million. Luther Davis, 37 years old, and CJ Evans, 29, admitted in Atlanta Federal Court to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated, identity theft. They pulled it off by impersonating NFL players on video calls using makeup, wigs, and fake IDs to trick lenders into handing over huge loans. Prosecutors laid it out clear, the duo set up phony bank and email accounts pretending to rep high profile athletes or even be them straight up. They started small but aimed bigger, targeting stars with fat contracts. Security folks at the players union caught win when bogus player contracts popped up as loan collateral, blowing the lid off last month. Davis, a national champ with a crimson tie back in 2010, went full method actor on those calls. Makeup and wig one time, just a wig.

1:00Another, even a due rag cover on a third. None of the real NFL players greenlit any of this. It was all smoking mirrors with photos swiped from online. The cash haul funded flashy buys like real estate, jewelry, and cars. Both left court silent with sentencing set for Evans in August and Davis in October. They faced up to seven years each, but plea deals mean prosecutors will push for less time. This case shines a light on how deep cons can go in sports finance, reminding everyone to double check those big money deals before they drop. This has been Birmingham News Today, powered by AI.