Ex-Alabama defensive lineman pleads guilty after impersonating 3 NFL players to fraudulently obtain nearly $20M in loans

Luther Davis is facing up to seven years in prison after pleading guilty on Monday. (Bob Rosato /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)

(Bob Rosato via Getty Images)

Former Alabama defensive lineman Luther Davis pleaded guilty to a pair of charges after he defrauded three NFL players and received millions in loans in their names.

Davis pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft on Monday in Atlanta, according to The Associated Press. CJ Evins, who was accused of committing the same crimes alongside Davis, also pleaded guilty to the two charges.

The two men are facing up to seven years in prison. Davis is due in court again in October for sentencing. Prosecutors have agreed to recommend a lower sentence as part of their plea deals on Monday.

Prosecutors said in court on Monday that the two men used fake bank and email accounts to try and convince lenders that they were either the players themselves or acting on behalf of the players. Davis even went as far as wearing disguises on video calls with investors, including wigs and makeup, and used fake driver’s licenses.

The three players were not named, but were reported to be Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr., Green Bay Packers safety Xavier McKinney and free agent tight end David Njoku. They had not authorized the men to obtain loans, and had no knowledge of the schemes as they were happening.

In total, the plan brought in about $20 million from at least 13 fraudulent loans. The two men then reportedly used the money to buy real estate, jewelry, cars and more.

Davis was a member of Alabama’s national championship team in 2009, which was the first title that head coach Nick Saban won with the Crimson Tide. Davis appeared in 45 games across four seasons with the school. Davis was involved in another scandal in 2013, too, when he engaged in $40,000 worth of transactions with NFL agents and financial advisors while working as an intermediary between them and five college players. That was against NCAA rules at the time.