Luther Davis and CJ Evins pleaded guilty on Apr. 27 to federal wire fraud and aggravated identity theft charges after they obtained nearly $20 million in fraudulent loans by impersonating professional athletes, according to the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia.
The case is significant because it highlights how individuals can use sophisticated methods to commit financial crimes and target both lenders and high-profile victims. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia serves as the principal federal law enforcement agency in a region covering approximately 7.5 million residents across north Georgia mountains, Atlanta suburbs, and borders with Alabama and the Carolinas, according to the official website.
According to prosecutors, Davis and Evins posed as managers for professional athletes between May 2023 and October 2024, registering companies with names similar to those of their targets, opening bank accounts under false pretenses, creating fake identification documents, and even using wigs and makeup during loan closings. "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.
Marlo Graham of FBI Atlanta said: "Davis and Evins built an elaborate scheme on deception—impersonating professional athletes, fabricating credentials, and even disguising themselves to close the deal." Graham also said this case demonstrates a commitment by authorities to protect victims from complex financial fraud schemes.
The defendants secured multiple loans using falsified contracts as collateral until a union representing professional athletes discovered that these contracts were fake. In total they received twelve fraudulent loans worth $19.8 million before being charged by criminal information in March 2026.
Sentencing is scheduled for August 4 for CJ Evins and October 8 for Luther Davis before Judge Steven D. Grimberg.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office coordinated this case with law enforcement agencies nationwide due its broad impact across jurisdictions according to its official website. The office prioritizes prosecution of threats such as terrorism or civil rights violations while enforcing federal criminal laws according to its official website.
