A former NFL cornerback who earned more than $40 million during his football career has been accused of defrauding women out of hundreds of thousands of dollars through dating apps, according to Georgia authorities.
Darryl “Buster” Skrine, 36, was arrested Wednesday in Roswell, Ga., and charged with 18 counts that include deposit account fraud, identity fraud, theft by taking, financial transaction card fraud, and criminal attempt to commit theft, police said.
Investigators began looking into Skrine in July after a woman reported being exploited financially. Detectives later identified at least three women in Wisconsin, North Carolina, and New York who were allegedly targeted and persuaded to send him money. Authorities said the women lost about $300,000 combined.
Police allege Skrine met the women on dating apps and developed relationships with them before claiming to have financial problems. He reportedly told victims he would repay them using money from his NFL annuity, but instead spent their funds on rentals, trips, and gift cards.
Skrine played in the NFL from 2011 to 2022 for the Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers, and Tennessee Titans. Contract records show he earned more than $25 million while with the Jets and about $11 million during two seasons with the Bears.
Roswell police said Skrine was arrested without incident after detectives served a search warrant at his home.
Canadian authorities are also seeking Skrine in connection with bank fraud charges. Police in Durham, Ontario, arrested him in August 2023 in a check fraud case worth more than $100,000. He was granted bail in April 2024 but later removed his GPS monitor and fled to the United States, officials said.
Authorities in Georgia believe additional victims may come forward as the investigation continues.
