Former NFL cornerback Darryl “Buster” Skrine was arrested in the Atlanta suburb of Roswell on 18 charges connected to an extensive financial fraud scheme targeting women on online dating platforms. Police say the retired pro athlete used fabricated stories of financial hardship to solicit money from his victims, promising repayment from his NFL annuity. He allegedly spent the money to fund a lavish lifestyle that included renting Airbnb, travel, and gift cards.
The Dating Game
Skrine grew up in nearby Cherokee County, Georgia, and played high school football at Etowah High before attending the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He entered the NFL in 2011 and played for several teams, including the Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers, and Tennessee Titans, earning over $40 million during his professional career. He retired from professional football in 2022.
Roswell Police Department detectives began investigating Skrine in July after receiving a report from a woman who claimed to have been financially exploited. Through the investigation, authorities determined Skrine had targeted multiple women, with three confirmed victims from Wisconsin, North Carolina, and New York losing a combined total of approximately $300,000. Police suspect there may be additional victims across the country. He is also wanted in Canada for skipping out on bail after being charged with numerous fraud-related charges. In August 2023 in Oshawa, Ontario, he was arrested by Canadian police in a $100,000 check fraud case. After being granted bail in April 2024 and placed on GPS monitoring, Skrine reportedly removed the device and fled to the United States.
Now in Georgia, Skrine, 36, who spent most of his career with the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets, faces five counts of federal fraud, five counts of identity fraud, three counts of deposit account fraud, three counts of criminal attempt. Authorities emphasized that the investigation is ongoing.