Two Georgia men admitted to a brazen fraud scheme that used wigs, makeup, fake IDs, and sham companies to impersonate professional athletes and secure nearly $20 million in loans; the case spans charges filed in March 2026, a scheme dated from May 26, 2023, to October 25, 2024, and scheduled sentencings later in 2026.
Luther Davis, 37, of Roswell, Georgia, and CJ Evins, 29, of Johns Creek, Georgia, pleaded guilty this week to federal wire fraud conspiracy and aggravated identity theft. The two were charged by criminal information on March 19, 2026, and March 20, 2026, respectively, after investigators tied them to a complex lending scam. Prosecutors say their scheme relied on a mix of forged paperwork and in-person impersonations to convince lenders they were dealing with legitimate athletes.
Sentencing dates are set months away and will determine the legal consequences they face: CJ Evins is scheduled to be sentenced on August 4, 2026, and Luther Davis on October 8, 2026, both before U.S. District Judge Steven D. Grimberg. Those dates follow the guilty pleas and allow time for pre-sentencing reports and victim impact statements. Federal sentences for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft can be severe, and the calendar now points toward courtroom resolutions later this year.
According to court filings, the pair purported to represent professional football players and convinced lenders to advance funds as if the athletes were borrowing against contracts. They posed as managers and even stepped into the athletes’ roles at closing tables, using wigs, makeup, and forged paperwork to pass on-camera scrutiny. Lenders later wired proceeds into accounts controlled by companies the defendants had set up for this purpose.
Investigators say Davis and Evins registered companies with names closely related to the impersonated athletes’ names or initials, opened bank accounts for those fictitious entities, and produced fabricated personal financial statements. They also created fraudulent email accounts and obtained counterfeit driver’s licenses and identification cards bearing the athletes’ names. Those layered deceptions let them move through several lenders, securing higher-value loans as confidence in the paperwork grew.
Prosecutors describe a string of transactions stretching from May 26, 2023, through October 25, 2024, during which the defendants obtained multiple loans under false pretenses. As the scheme escalated, lenders demanded borrower appearances on camera at closings, which prompted the defendants to impersonate the players in person and sign loan documents in the athletes’ names. The alleged fraud paid for a series of purchases and refinances tied to the defendants’ lifestyles and prior fraudulent debts.
“Using fake documents, bogus corporations, wigs, and makeup, Davis and Evins convinced lenders they were NFL players, obtained millions of dollars in fraudulent loans, and used the proceeds of their crimes to purchase real estate and luxury items,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “This scheme highlights that anyone can be a target of identity theft, and my office will vigorously investigate and prosecute swindlers who steal identities to defraud others.”
“Davis and Evins built an elaborate scheme on deception—impersonating professional athletes, fabricating credentials, and even disguising themselves to close the deal,” said Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “This case underscores the FBI’s commitment to protecting victims from complex financial fraud and identity theft. Those who exploit others’ reputations for personal gain will be identified, investigated, and brought to justice.”
Investigators report that proceeds from the loans were used in part to retire earlier fraudulent balances and in part to fund purchases such as real estate, jewelry, and watches. As the defendants chased higher loan amounts, lenders increased scrutiny, which the defendants tried to outmaneuver by staging on-camera closings with imposters standing in for players. The scheme ultimately produced roughly a dozen fraudulent loans, including one refinance, with total face value reported at $19.8 million.
The fraud unraveled after a union that represents professional athletes flagged the player contracts used as collateral as fraudulent, prompting a deeper probe. The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation, which grew to include financial analysis of bank accounts and corporate registrations tied to the defendants. Assistant U.S. Attorney C. Brock Brockington is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government and will present the evidence that led to the guilty pleas at the upcoming sentencing hearings.
