Darryl “Buster” Skrine, the former NFL cornerback once celebrated for his speed and tenacity on the field, now finds himself at the center of a very different kind of spotlight. On Wednesday, police arrested Skrine at a home in Roswell, Georgia, in connection with an alleged scheme that preyed on women he met through dating apps.
Authorities say Skrine used his reputation and charm to lure women into a financial trap. According to investigators, he would strike up conversations online, gradually earning trust before spinning a story of sudden financial hardship. Skrine allegedly told victims that, while his NFL pension and annuity payments were tied up, he needed short-term help covering expenses. He promised repayment as soon as those funds cleared.
But officials claim the money never came back. Instead, the scheme left a trail of women who say they were manipulated and left out of thousands of dollars.
Skrine, 35, carved out an 11-year NFL career with teams like the Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, and Chicago Bears before retiring in 2021. While his professional track record paints the picture of a successful athlete, Wednesday’s arrest tells a much darker story.
Fraud cases linked to dating apps have surged in recent years, with “romance scams” becoming a multi-billion-dollar industry for criminals worldwide. Law enforcement officials warn that Skrine’s alleged actions highlight how even high-profile figures can exploit digital dating platforms to target vulnerable individuals.
As Skrine faces legal proceedings, questions linger about how a man who earned millions in the NFL could find himself accused of defrauding women in such a personal, calculated way. For now, the onetime defensive standout is sidelined by a far greater challenge than any opponent he faced on the gridiron: the American justice system.
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