A former Alabama defensive lineman, Luther Davis, and his accomplice CJ Evins allegedly ran a fraudulent loan scheme by impersonating NFL players such as Michael Penix Jr., Xavier McKinney, and David Njoku.

Davis is slated to plead guilty on April 27 under a change of plea agreement filed in March.

If convicted, the conspiracy to commit wire fraud could carry up to 20 years in prison, while aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory minimum of two years, in addition to related charges.

The federal case is ongoing, and neither the university nor its program is implicated in the allegations.

Reporting underscores the dramatic fall from national champion to facing federal penalties, with USA Today and Reuters coverage cited.

The incident highlights the need for stronger security and oversight in financial dealings involving high-profile athletes.

Context is broadened by referencing reporting from The Guardian and Yahoo Sports on the impersonation scheme and NCAA amateurism debates.

Charges were filed in the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division, and publicized through Guardian and AL.com reporting.

The Guardian reported these details on April 15, 2026, noting statements from federal prosecutors about the scheme.

Aliya Sports and Sure Sports did not respond to requests for comment.

Prosecutors say the NFL players were not involved in the scheme, and there is no indication of their knowledge of the impostor activity.

Investigators say the fraud went undetected for months before inconsistencies triggered a broader federal probe into wire fraud and identity theft.