Story perspectives

Alabama tackle, teammate plead guilty to $20 M loan fraud

4/29/2026

Summary

Davis & Evins Fraud

Alabama tackle Luther Davis (37) and CJ Evins (29) pleaded guilty in Atlanta to investor fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.
They used makeup and wigs in video calls to pose as Michael Penix Jr., David Njoku and Xavier McKinney, obtaining 13 fraudulent loans totaling nearly $20 million.
Judge Steven Grimberg set sentencing for Davis in October and for Evins in August, each facing up to seven years.

Summary

Davis Bagman Scheme

Davis participated in a 2013 alleged bagman scheme that gave improper benefits to SEC players, including Alabama lineman D.J. Fluker.
The fraud used Georgia-registered companies named after the impersonated NFL athletes and created fake corporate accounts.
Aliya Sports and All Pro Capital Funding issued $4.35 million and $3.3 million loans through broker Sure Sports.
Prosecutors warned that aggravated identity theft and wire-fraud convictions could bring up to 20 years in prison.

Summary

Davis & Evins Guilty

On April 27, 2026, the defendants pleaded guilty in the District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.
Prosecutors said Davis and Evins falsely claimed to represent NFL players, a misrepresentation that secured the loans.
Using a counterfeit player driver’s license, they notarized loan documents for a scheme that grew to $20 million in fraud by 2024.
Both lived in Atlanta suburbs—Davis in Roswell and Evins in Johns Creek—showing the fraud’s local scope.

History

Historical Context

The 2008 Bernard Madoff Ponzi scheme, uncovered by the Securities and Exchange Commission, collapsed a $65 billion fraud empire that devastated investors worldwide. U.S. Department of Justice secured a 150-year prison sentence for Madoff, while victims recovered roughly $14 billion through court-ordered restitution, highlighting regulatory gaps. Similarly, Alabama-born fraudsters Luther Davis and CJ Evins masqueraded as NFL stars Michael Penix Jr. and David Njoku, siphoning nearly $20 million in loans across multiple banks. The Madoff fallout prompted stricter SEC oversight, foreshadowing intensified federal scrutiny of sports-related financial scams like the Georgia-based scheme, potentially reshaping future enforcement.

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Davis & Evins Fraud

Alabama tackle Luther Davis (37) and CJ Evins (29) pleaded guilty in Atlanta to investor fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.
They used makeup and wigs in video calls to pose as Michael Penix Jr., David Njoku and Xavier McKinney, obtaining 13 fraudulent loans totaling nearly $20 million.
Judge Steven Grimberg set sentencing for Davis in October and for Evins in August, each facing up to seven years.

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