Former Dallas Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith is facing a lawsuit accusing him and his business partners of defrauding Kituwah LLC, the investment and economic development arm of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, out of $2.5 million.

The lawsuit was filed Monday in Delaware Chancery Court and centers on a Texas solar project called Project Exodus. According to the complaint, Kituwah provided a $2.5 million loan in 2023 after Smith, his longtime business partner David Mosley, and their company, 4 13 Solutions Inc., made representations about the project’s financing and potential returns.

Kituwah alleges the money was supposed to help acquire rights to the project and establish a jointly owned solar venture. Instead, the complaint claims Smith and his partners used the funds to repay an earlier obligation to Wilson Holdings, another company involved in their business dealings.

The lawsuit describes the alleged use of the money as resembling a Ponzi scheme and claims Kituwah was repeatedly given explanations for why the loan could not be repaid. The loan was due in February 2024, and Kituwah says it has not recovered any of the principal. With interest, the amount owed had grown to approximately $3.1 million by the end of August.

Kituwah is seeking at least $2.5 million, along with interest, legal expenses and additional damages. The complaint includes allegations of fraudulent inducement, breach of fiduciary duty, and breach of contract.

Smith, 57, is one of the most accomplished players in NFL history. He spent the majority of his career with the Cowboys, helped the team win three Super Bowls during the 1990s, and retired as the NFL’s all-time leading rusher. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010.

The allegations have not been proven in court. Attempts to contact Smith and the other defendants for comment were unsuccessful, according to Reuters.