Negative headlines from the Carolina Panthers. An investigation is being launched against owner David Tepper. He is suspected of having misused public funds.

Munich – Earlier this year, Panthers owner David Tepper backed out of a construction project in South Carolina that would have resulted in a new training centre and headquarters for his franchise. But pulling out is not quite that simple.

The Associated Press reports that a criminal investigation has been launched against the team owner and his real estate company. The allegation is that public funds were misused.

The York sheriff’s office said the investigation did not mean Tepper had committed a crime.

“An investigation is merely an enquiry and should not lead to the conclusion that any party has committed any wrongdoing,” Kevin Tolson and District Attorney Kevin Brackett said in a joint statement, which also named Tepper and his company, GT Real Estate.

Did the Panthers owner misuse public funds?

The real estate company does not want to know of any wrongdoing. “This is a straightforward business matter that is being fully resolved,” GT Real Estate said in a statement. “The underlying disputes arise from contracts that were jointly negotiated by the parties and are in the public domain. The monies paid by the district were handled in accordance with the terms of those contracts. “

Specifically at issue is $21 million in sales tax revenue that was diverted to the project to improve roads around the facility that was never built.

The announcement of the criminal investigation comes just days after the Panthers and York County announced they had settled a lawsuit related to the payment.