NFL great Earl Thomas is alleged victim of $1.9 million identity theft scheme by ex-wife’s lover
The boyfriend of former NFL great Earl Thomas‘ ex-wife was arrested for stealing his identity in an alleged $1.9 million scam.
The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office arrested 38-year-old New Orleans man Kevin J. Thompson, who is in a relationship with Thomas’ ex-wife, Nina Thomas, in June, authorities told Nola.com.
Thompson is accused of cashing Thomas’ NFL checks, stealing from his bank account and transferring car ownership for several vehicles.
He faces charges “including identity theft, forgery, money laundering, credit card fraud, computer fraud and bank fraud,” according to Nola.com.
Thomas was a seven-time Pro Bowler, three-time All-Pro and one-time Super Bowl champion as a member of the Seahawks’ legendary “Legion of Boom” secondary.
His NFL career spanned from 2010-19.
Thompson allegedly used a forged driver’s license that had his own photo and Thomas’ information to make a bogus bank account and transfer auto titles, including one for a Rolls-Royce Cullinan SUV, which he drove to the bank on the day he was arrested.
He is accused of transferring the titles to “several” vehicles, and then selling them.
It is unclear how he got “physical possession” of the autos, the report said.
The Sheriff’s Office said Thomas’ credit union in Texas detected suspicious activity at Jefferson Financial in June, notifying authorities that it was not Thomas who opened an account with the New Orleans bank.
Thompson was arrested a second time when he attempted to retrieve the Rolls-Royce on June 16 in a different vehicle that had been reported stolen.
He is free on $730,000 bond, and his attorney declined to comment to Nola.com on Tuesday.
Federal investigators are also part of the case, per Nola.com.
Thomas and his ex-wife filed for divorce in 2020 and were later involved in a Christmas Eve incident that year in which both brandished weapons in a parking lot argument.
The ex-NFLer was ordered to stay 400 feet from Nina, who accused Thomas of cheating.