Emmitt Smith and Partners Sued for Alleged $2.5 Million Solar Fraud
A Native American development agency has filed a lawsuit in Delaware against former Dallas Cowboys star Emmitt Smith and his associates, alleging they misappropriated a $2.5 million investment intended for a Texas solar project.
Kituwah LLC, a Cherokee economic development entity, sued former NFL running back Emmitt Smith and his business partner David Mosley in Delaware chancery court, accusing them of defrauding the tribe of $2.5 million. The lawsuit alleges that Smith’s firm, 4 13 Solutions, proposed a joint venture to develop a Texas solar farm named Project Exodus, promising joint control, a Department of Energy loan, and revenue by the end of 2024.
Kituwah provided the full investment in September 2023, but the partners allegedly shut the tribe out of the venture, never obtained the promised loan, and offered no evidence of progress. Instead, the money was reportedly redirected to a minority stakeholder owed from a prior deal, a pattern the complaint likens to a Ponzi scheme. Kituwah says repeated inquiries were answered with shifting explanations until all contact ceased. The filing requests repayment of the $2.5 million plus interest, while representatives for 4 13 Solutions have not responded.
Why it matters
The case highlights potential misuse of tribal investment funds and raises questions about celebrity involvement in business ventures.
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