Reeder's Take

   The Carolina Panthers called a brief press conference after Wednesday’s open locker to call attention to an imposter in the Charlotte area who is impersonating offensive lineman Travelle Wharton and duping folks out of money. Wharton and Panthers head of security Gene Brown warned folks not to give money to anyone without doing research.

   “We want to put people on notice and try to help Travelle out of this because he’s been unfairly represented,” public relations directions director Charlie Dayton.

   The first incident happened about a year ago in the Atlanta area where a woman was duped out of $5,300.

   The woman later met with Wharton himself at Bank of America Stadium and immediately realized he was not the same person as the imposter she gave money to. S

   According to Brown, the man has defrauded about four or five different people out of about $25,000.  The issue is under investigation by NFL security and the Charlotte Mecklenburg County Sherriff’s office. Police have identified a suspect, but no arrests have been made.

   “Travelle is a family guy, stay at home guy who is never out,” Brown said. “He’s concerned that this person is out their bilking people out of money using his name.”

   Wharton said the issue is “frustrating.”

   “It is because I don’t go nowhere,” Wharton said. “Just hearing about it I was a like, ‘Wow.’ And then hearing about the ammounts of money and that it’s continued to happen, it is frustrating.”

   The Panthers had a similar problem with a man who was impersonating free safety Charles Godfrey last year, according to Brown.

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