Two individuals allegedly involved in a complex identity theft scheme have been charged with fraudulently obtaining loans amounting to approximately $250,000 in the name of Cam Ward, the quarterback for the Tennessee Titans in the National Football League (NFL). The case, which has drawn significant attention, underscores the growing prevalence of financial fraud targeting professional athletes amid their rising endorsement deals and salaries.
The two accused, Albert Weber, 42, and Cyntrelle Lash, 39, both residents of Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, face multiple charges including identity theft, bank fraud, and forgery. According to Capt. Jason Rivarde of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, the fraudulent activities began in March, when Weber and Lash allegedly collaborated to secure several loans under Cam Ward’s name. These loans were obtained through deceptive means involving the use of numerous false identities designed to convince an out-of-state private credit fund to extend the loans.
The investigation revealed that Weber even impersonated Cam Ward’s father, Calvin Ward, on at least one occasion, signing notarized documents in person to facilitate the loan process. This brazen act contributed to the successful acquisition of high-interest loans from the lender, who was reportedly unaware of the fraud. The lender’s president was reportedly proud of having an NFL player as a client, mistakenly believing that Cam Ward was legitimately involved. The fraudsters also convinced him that Cam would send a signed helmet as a gift, further solidifying their ruse.
The fraudulent activity came to light when liens were placed on a fully paid home owned by Calvin Ward in Texas. Calvin was first contacted by the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office while attending an NFL rookie event shortly before Cam Ward’s draft in April 2025. Initially skeptical, Calvin soon learned that two liens had been placed on his property without his knowledge, a discovery that was both shocking and alarming. Liens are legal claims against property used by lenders to secure debts, allowing them to claim the property in case of default.
Calvin Ward, himself a former college football player, expressed his distress over how easily such liens could be placed without the homeowner’s awareness. Despite precautions taken by his family to freeze Cam Ward’s credit following his collegiate career at the University of Miami—motivated by prior instances of athletes being impersonated to obtain loans—the Wards had not anticipated the extent of vulnerability they would face.
The fraudulent loans were issued despite the absence of key personal information such as social security numbers or driver’s license details, highlighting serious gaps in the lending process. Upon discovering the fraud, the lender quickly released the liens on the Ward family home.
The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office intensified their investigation, leading to the arrest of Weber and Lash on May 16 at a shopping center in Harvey, Louisiana. The two had planned to attend a meeting designed to facilitate the continuation of their fraudulent loan scheme. Both were released on bail pending upcoming court hearings, with Weber’s set for early November and Lash’s for mid-December.
In response to the allegations, Weber has strongly denied any wrongdoing. He claimed that someone else had impersonated him and that he was not involved in the fraudulent activities. Weber asserted that the charges against him had been dismissed, threatening defamation if the case were reported, a claim disputed by law enforcement. Capt. Rivarde confirmed that the case remains open and active, as corroborated by court records.
Weber and Lash are reportedly friends, and their social media profiles depict them as business professionals. Weber’s online presence references his past as a distinguished high school basketball player and a member of the University of Alabama men’s basketball team during the 2004-05 season, standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing 195 pounds.
Adding to the complexity of the case, law enforcement seized a 2018 Bentley Bentayga from Weber during the investigation. Weber subsequently requested the vehicle’s return, arguing it held no evidentiary value for the charges he faces. This request was pending resolution at the time of reporting.
This case is not isolated; it forms part of a broader pattern of criminal activity targeting NFL players and other professional athletes. Earlier in October, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office reported the arrest of two suspects and the search for two others in connection with a burglary at the home of Cam Jordan, another NFL player. That incident appeared to be part of a nationwide trend of crimes against athletes during their absences for games and competitions.
In a related federal case, prosecutors charged a New Orleans man and