File: Penix, Njoku, McKinney utilized by ex-Bama DE for fraud

A former Alabama soccer participant faces fees of cord fraud and identification robbery after he allegedly used wigs and faux driving force’s licenses to impersonate NFL gamers for the aim of securing just about $20 million in loans, consistent with federal courtroom information.

Prosecutors allege that Luther Davis pretended to be 3 other NFL gamers from Would possibly 2023 till October 2024 to protected loans from a couple of lending businesses.

The gamers whose identities have been allegedly used are Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr., former Cleveland Browns tight finish David Njoku and Inexperienced Bay Packers protection Xavier McKinney, consistent with a record.

The courtroom paperwork state that not one of the gamers had licensed the loans and that faux e-mail accounts have been created with out their wisdom.

Plea hearings are scheduled for April 27 for Davis and CJ Evins, Davis’ spouse within the alleged scheme. Evins is indexed in a separate submitting alleging cord fraud and identification robbery fees in the similar case, and his lawyer, Ben Alper, advised ESPN in an e-mail Thursday his shopper is scheduled to plead to blame.

Davis’ lawyer didn’t right away reply to an ESPN request for remark.

Davis and Evins used the identities of 3 NFL gamers — “D.N.,” “X.M.” and “M.P.” — to use for the loans. The Father or mother, which first reported the tale, recognized D.N., X.M. and M.P. as Njoku, McKinney and Penix, respectively.

To persuade lenders they have been the 3 gamers, the courtroom paperwork allege that Davis and Evins created “fabricated non-public monetary statements, Secretary of State paperwork, and financial institution statements for corporations purportedly operated by means of the gamers.” The file, filed March 19 in Atlanta, alleges that Davis and Evins registered firms very similar to the names of the gamers to perform this.

Davis would display up “wearing conceal and impersonated the gamers” on the mortgage closings, together with the usage of pretend driving force’s licenses to idiot the lenders and the notary public, federal prosecutors mentioned. Davis allegedly wore make-up and a wig to impersonate Njoku all over a recorded video convention to near a mortgage for a $4 million promissory observe on Jan. 22, 2024, with lender Aliya Sports activities Finance and underwriter Certain Sports activities.

The true D.N., the paperwork stated, by no means had a Georgia driving force’s license. The license quantity Davis equipped used to be for a lady in Savannah, Georgia.

Two months later, consistent with the courtroom submitting, Certain Sports activities emailed Davis, believing he used to be McKinney, to signal for a $4.4 million mortgage on the Ritz-Carlton in New York Town on April 1, 2024. Davis and Evins allegedly flew from Atlanta to New York and met with Certain and Aliya representatives by means of video convention. Davis used to be later recognized in a Florida civil lawsuit as McKinney.

On July 26, 2024, Certain Sports activities and All-Professional Capital Investment arrange a video convention to near a mortgage with “M.P.” at a SpringHill Suites in Buford, Georgia. Davis allegedly confirmed up impersonating Penix to protected a $3.3 million promissory observe from All-Professional Capital, appearing up with a “durag-style head overlaying” and offering a pretend Florida license with a photograph discovered on-line.

In all, the courtroom submitting alleges there have been no less than 13 pretend loans for greater than $19.8 million. Lenders allegedly stressed cash to accounts managed by means of Davis and Evins for pretend firms they arrange, after which they transferred the cash into firms the 2 in truth owned.

Aliya sued Certain Sports activities in Florida’s eleventh Circuit Courtroom in February 2025, alleging negligence, gross negligence, negligent misrepresentation and unjust enrichment, consistent with courtroom information. That case remains to be pending.

“The Aliya Sports activities Finance Fund, L.P. is operating to give protection to its traders from mistaken behavior that has brought about injury to the fund,” Aliya lawyer Josh Rubens wrote in an e-mail to ESPN on Thursday. “The fund can’t remark additional given the pending litigation.”

Darren Heitner, the lawyer representing Certain Sports activities, declined remark.

The March 19 submitting, categorised a “legal data,” most often is used when a defendant waives the proper to indictment by means of grand jury, clearing the way in which for the legal procedure to start. It ceaselessly ends up in a to blame plea or plea discount.

Davis used to be a best 150 highschool prospect in ESPN’s recruiting scores who performed defensive finish at Alabama from 2007 to 2010, making 47 tackles and profitable a countrywide championship within the 2009 season.

In 2013, Davis used to be imagined to be an middleman between 5 SEC gamers and NFL brokers for the gamers to obtain impermissible advantages — then a contravention of NCAA laws.