Nearly $1B 'mystery' land purchase near Travis AFB shows lack of federal transparency, officials say
Local and federal officials say the process has gone from suspicious to intimidating.
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Federal officials tell the ABC7 News I-Team they are "highly skeptical" of a company that's purchased nearly $1 billion of land near Travis Air Force Base.
The group Flannery Associates LLC has acquired 55,000 acres of dry farmland in Solano County - including parcels that surround three sides of one of the most critical military bases in the western U.S.
The mysterious purchases started in 2018 and continue in 2023 - amounting to around $800 million.
RELATED: 'Mystery company' buys $800M worth of land near Travis AFB, raising concerns about national security
Local and federal officials say the process has gone from suspicious to intimidating.
"Their intention isn't to grow olive trees," said Sarah Donnelly, a city councilmember for Rio Vista. "It feels nefarious to need all of the land to the point where you're going to sue them to intimidate to sell to you - those aren't farmers."
Rio Vista is surrounded by land acquired by Flannery.
"There seems like there's something larger in the works," Donnelly said.
The problem is - no one knows. And that point alone raises a bigger question. Why doesn't the law require more transparency?
The I-Team spoke with Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA), the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee.
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"Shouldn't principal owners purchasing land near military bases or national security sites be required to identify themselves?" the I-Team's Stephanie Sierra asked.
"Yes. Absolutely," Rep. Smith said. "I think we ought to get greater transparency on that."
The I-Team confirmed over the past six years of these land acquisitions - there were no clear reporting structures from sensitive bases to federal agencies responsible for investigating land purchases near military bases.
Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA08) is working to change that with new language in the National Defense Authorization Act or NDAA that would streamline communication so the proper authorities can review these cases. The I-Team confirmed these additions to the NDAA would not directly require ownership to identify itself while purchasing assets near military bases, but would ensure these types of transactions are reported to the FBI and CIFUS to be investigated.
"If you're not a nefarious operation, why are you keeping it secret?" Garamendi asked.
Last year, 300 acres of farmland were purchased near Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota. Garamendi calls it a "spy base."
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"A company in China was acquiring land around that base and wanted to build a 400-foot silo that could look directly into the base... and we were like whoa, whoa, whoa, what's going on there?" said Garamendi.
"If it's later determined the purchase of this land is connected with a foreign adversary, what do you think should happen next?" Sierra asked Rep. Smith.
"Excellent question. I think we need to look at options and evaluate the threat. And look, it's going to depend... We have foreign direct investment in this country, from a wide variety of countries," Rep. Smith said. "I think we need to get the information and evaluate what the best steps forward are to protect national security."
Rep. Smith added it's important to recognize the U.S. will continue doing business with China, but believes the country needs to be cautious.
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