Emmitt Smith, the Pro Football Hall of Fame running back, has been accused of conning a Native American investor out of $2.5 million, a lawsuit filed in Delaware on Monday read.
The lawsuit states that Kituwah LLC, an investment and economic development sector of the Band of Cherokee Indians, loaned $2.5 million after being convinced to join an alleged solar project by Smith, his business partner David Mosley, and 413 Solutions, Inc. – their real estate company, per Front Office Sports.
Kituwah claims that it has not seen “a penny” from the loan, which is more than two years past due. It also alleged that their money loaned was used to pay back a separate company that previously invested in the project.
Project Exodus solar farm was the name of the venture that Kituwah invested in with the understanding it would be named a partner. It alleged the U.S. Department of Energy would be funding the project as well.
Kituwah LLC is seeking at least $2.5 million in damages as well as interest, costs, expenses, and anything else determined during a trial.
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“Kituwah poured substantial time, efforts, and resources in the purported joint venture,” the suit states. “Not only has Kituwah not seen any returns on its investment, Kituwah has been forced to expend additional costs in efforts to reclaim the amounts it is still owed pursuant to its investment, including to investigate what happened to its money.”
Kituwah went as far as to say it was “essentially, like a Ponzi scheme,” claiming that “false projections and data” were given to them as they made the loan. They also claim that the loan was supposed to be paid back “in a matter of months.”
Kituwah said it did an investigation, finding that the money went to Wilson Holdings, which Smith and the other defendants in the lawsuit have partnered with on separate investments.
Smith is the NFL’s all-time leading rusher, tallying 18,355 yards on the ground during his Hall of Fame career, which mostly was spent with the Dallas Cowboys. Smith won three Super Bowls with the franchise across 13 seasons, while playing his final two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals.
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Smith also owns the all-time league rushing touchdowns record (164) and rushing first down record (1,028).
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