Luther Davis, a former defensive tackle who won a national championship with the University of Alabama in 2010, pleaded guilty in federal court Monday to a sophisticated scheme involving the impersonation of NFL players. Alongside co-conspirator CJ Evins, Davis admitted to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft after collecting nearly $20 million in fraudulent loans.

Federal prosecutors in Atlanta detailed an elaborate operation that ran from May 2023 through October 2024. Davis allegedly used wigs, makeup, and forged documents to convince lenders he was a professional athlete during Zoom calls and notarized meetings. While the victims were identified only by initials in court filings, prosecutors confirmed Davis impersonated a player believed to be Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. by wearing a durag and makeup to match the rookie's appearance.

The duo used the stolen millions to fund a lifestyle of luxury, purchasing real estate, high-end watches, and jewelry. To secure the funds, Davis reportedly presented fake driver’s licenses featuring photos of actual NFL players, which misled lenders into releasing the money.

"This scheme highlights that anyone can be a target of identity theft," said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. He noted that Davis and Evins utilized bogus corporations and forged financial records to make the applications appear legitimate to specialized sports finance firms.

Davis, who played under Nick Saban but never made an NFL roster, now faces significant prison time. The wire fraud charge carries a maximum of five years, while the aggravated identity theft count adds a mandatory two-year sentence. Following the guilty plea, defense attorneys for Davis remained silent as they left the courthouse.

Sentencing for Davis is set for Oct. 8, while Evins will receive his sentence on Aug. 4. The FBI continues to investigate the scope of the fraud and whether additional parties were involved in the financial deception.