Johns Creek man gets 6 years for $20M NFL impersonation fraud; city ranks among nation's best places to live

A Johns Creek man is heading to federal prison for his role in a scheme that netted nearly $20 million by impersonating NFL players — including Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix — while the same suburb north of Atlanta was being celebrated as one of the best places in the country to call home.

CJ Evins was sentenced to six years in prison without the possibility of parole after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, according to WSB Radio. Prosecutors say the scheme secured nearly $20 million in fraudulent loans by impersonating NFL players and their managers.

Evins' co-defendant, Luther Davis of Roswell — a former University of Alabama defensive tackle — is accused of going further than most fraudsters: prosecutors say Davis physically dressed as Michael Penix, including wearing a durag, during a video call with investors to request loans, according to WSB Radio. Davis is scheduled to be sentenced in October.

Beyond Penix, prosecutors identified Green Bay Packers safety Xavier McKinney and Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku among the victims whose identities were used in the scheme.

On a very different note, U.S. News & World Report's newly released 2026-2027 list of top places to live placed Johns Creek among the nation's best, according to Savannahnow.com. The publication ranked 250 cities based on a value index — essentially cost of living — alongside quality of life, desirability, and the job market. Atlanta and its surrounding cities were noted as among Georgia's most popular places to live, with Johns Creek standing out as the top-ranked Georgia entry.

The U.S. News ranking and the Evins sentencing both surfaced in the same Patch AM news cycle for Johns Creek, a Fulton County suburb. The fraud case is a federal matter; the sentencing of co-defendant Davis remains pending as of this report.

For the Evins case, the next development to watch is Davis's sentencing hearing, scheduled for October. For the city's ranking, U.S. News publishes its list annually — meaning Johns Creek will face fresh competition in the next cycle.

Why it matters — A Johns Creek resident's six-year federal sentence in a $20 million NFL impersonation fraud is a reminder that wire fraud schemes targeting celebrity identities carry severe consequences — and the case against co-defendant Davis is still unresolved heading into October.

Reported by patch.com, realestate.usnews.com, wsbradio.com, savannahnow.com, espn.com, appenmedia.com