The South Carolina Attorney General’s office has concluded that there was no criminal wrongdoing in the use of $21 million in public funds for the failed Carolina Panthers headquarters project in Rock Hill. An investigation found no evidence of misappropriation or criminal intent, as first reported by WBTV.
The funds, provided by York County for roadwork near the site, were intermingled with project funds under an agreement that did not require segregation of the money. The headquarters project, which included plans for a stadium and community spaces, collapsed into bankruptcy in 2022. However, as part of the bankruptcy settlement, the Panthers returned the $21 million plus interest to York County, and the 245-acre property reverted to the city of Rock Hill.
All civil claims related to the project were withdrawn as part of the settlement, and the letter emphasized that both York County and GT Real Estate, the Tepper-owned company behind the development, acted in good faith.
