Governor Greg Abbott announced Sunday that the State of Texas has officially halted all construction related to the controversial 402-acre EPIC City development near Josephine, citing a growing number of investigations — including multiple criminal probes — into the project and its developers.

“Texas has halted any construction of EPIC City. There is no construction taking place,” Abbott stated. “The state of Texas has launched about a half dozen investigations into this project. That includes criminal investigations.” He added that the U.S. Department of Justice is also conducting a federal inquiry.

The EPIC City project, spearheaded by the East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC) and its for-profit partner Community Capital Partners, was pitched as a sprawling, master-planned Muslim community with residential housing, schools, senior care, and recreational facilities. However, state officials say the project failed to obtain legally required permits and is now under review for potential illegal operations and violations of Texas law.

“The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality found that the group behind the proposed EPIC compound did not submit the required permits to begin construction,” Abbott said. “They must confirm within seven days that they are immediately ceasing any construction of their illegal project or face the full weight of the law.”