NFL Legend Emmitt Smith Accused Of Fleecing Native Tribe Out Of $2.5 Million

NFL legend Emmitt Smith is facing serious legal trouble after being accused of scamming a Native American tribe’s investment arm out of $2.5 million.

A new lawsuit filed by Kituwah LLC, the economic development arm of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, claims Smith lured the company into an allegedly fraudulent solar energy venture alongside his business partner.

The suit further alleges that the loaned money was secretly funneled elsewhere, leaving Kituwah out millions with no returns.

A new lawsuit filed in Delaware on Monday accuses Smith of conning a Native American investor out of $2.5 million through an alleged solar project scheme called Project Exodus.

According to the lawsuit, Kituwah LLC loaned the money after Smith, his business partner David Mosley, and their real estate company, 4 13 Solutions Inc., convinced the company to invest in the project.

However, the money was allegedly used to repay a separate company that had previously invested in another venture connected to the defendants.

The lawsuit is seeking repayment of the loan from the Hall of Famer and NFL’s all-time rushing leader, as well as reimbursement for legal costs, interest, and other damages.

Kituwah Claims Smith Fed A ‘Steady Stream Of Lies’

Kituwah’s lawsuit further paints the alleged scheme as a calculated “ploy,” in which Smith allegedly told a “steady stream of lies.”

This included being shown “false projections and data” and being told that the project would also receive funding from the U.S. Department of Energy.

According to the aggrieved party, Smith had also claimed that the solar farm would be operational by 2024 and could generate first-year net income of $13,807,655.

He also allegedly promised repayment “in a matter of months,” but now, nearly two years have passed without Kituwah receiving a penny.

The Tribe Claims It Never Got Answers About Its $2.5M

When asked repeated questions about the loan and joint venture agreement, neither Smith nor the parties he collaborated with allegedly provided a solid explanation.

“Their lack of disclosure is telling and only further confirms 4 13 Solutions’ fraudulent intent and the wrongful nature of the payment,” Kituwah wrote in its complaint, referencing one of the defendants.

For now, it remains to be seen whether the case will be settled out of court. Smith has yet to publicly respond to the lawsuit.

Emmitt Smith’s Son Cut By Chiefs Ahead Of NFL Season

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That’s not where the trouble ends for Emmett Smith’s household, after his son E.J.’s bid to launch his NFL career with the Kansas City Chiefs came to an abrupt end. The 24-year-old running back was waived from injured reserve after reaching an injury settlement with the team. The move allows Smith to become a free agent once the settlement period expires.

Smith joined Kansas City as an undrafted rookie earlier this year but saw his preseason derailed by injury. His release came just days before the Chiefs’ season opener against the Denver Broncos.

The former Stanford and Texas A&M player had previously acknowledged that his journey looked very different from his Hall of Fame father’s.

“He was a first-rounder; I’m an undrafted guy,” Smith said during training camp in July. “My path is already different from his.”

Emmitt Smith Had Blunt Advice For His Son About Living Up To The Family Name

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Smith has been inspiring his son since before the young star joined the NFL. According to the legend of the sport, he once taught E.J. how to handle the pressure of his famous family name when the young man questioned whether he could live up to expectations.

“Here’s the thing — you gotta run your race, and you gotta disregard what other people are saying. Because you have whatever ability you have, you have to be yourself,” Smith recalled telling his son, per Fox News Digital.

He added, “And you have to work at being yourself and work at what you need to do to hone your craft. Just go play the game. Put your blinders on. Run your race. You may look up one day and find yourself in the damn Super Bowl. You never know.”