Dallas Turner, the former Alabama Crimson Tide standout and 2024 first-round NFL Draft pick, is reportedly the victim of a sophisticated banking fraud scheme that cost him nearly a quarter of a million dollars.
According to a report from the Star Tribune, Turner received a call on Feb. 19 from someone impersonating a JPMorgan Chase banker, warning him of a supposed identity theft attempt. Later that day, Turner wired $120,000 to “Island Food Truck LLC” at a Chase branch in Eagan, Minnesota, and then another $120,000 to “CNL FL LLC” at a second branch in West St. Paul.
Police in Dakota County are investigating, have identified several suspects, and are exploring whether any bank employees may have been involved — though less than $2,500 of the stolen funds has been recovered, per the Trib.
Turner, 22, was a defensive force at Alabama, earning All-America honors before becoming a key piece of the Crimson Tide’s dominant front seven. Now entering his second NFL season with the Minnesota Vikings, Turner is hoping to take a big leap after a quiet rookie campaign in which he logged just over 300 snaps while stuck behind a pair of veterans on the depth chart.
This off-field incident is an unfortunate early hurdle for Turner, who remains under a fully-guaranteed, $15.7 million rookie contract. It’s unclear whether he participated in the Vikings’ fraud prevention training sessions, which are offered by the team annually, but the situation is likely to serve as a costly life lesson for the former Bama star — one that underscores the risks young athletes face off the field, even as they work to make their mark on it.