Former Bears cornerback Buster Skrine, a fugutive already wanted by the Canadian government for more than a year, was arrested Wednesday in Roswell, Georgia, and charged with 18 counts related to financial fraud.
The counts include criminal attempt to commit theft, deposit account fraud, identity fraud, financial transaction card fraud and theft by taking.
According to a release from the Roswell Police Department, investigators learned Skrine was targeting women on online dating platforms. He allegedly told victims he was having financial troubles, asked them for money and promised to pay them back with proceeds from his NFL annuity, then used the money on travel and gift cards and to finance rental properties.
Three victims, from New York, North Carolina and Wisconsin, reportedly lost about $300,000. Others are expected to come forward.
Skrine, 36, is wanted by the Durham Regional Police Service in Ontario after being arrested and charged with more than $100,000 in check fraud in August 2023. He was put on bail in April 2024 and given an ankle monitor, but he didn’t go to his next court appearance, took the monitoring device off and left the country.
Roswell police are “working closely with Canadian authorities to ensure Skrine answers for all of his charges in both countries,” according to the release.
Skrine played for the Bears in 2019-20, starting seven times over 28 appearances and forcing three fumbles. He spent 2021 with the 49ers and Titans.
