Flannery Associates, a mystery company, has reportedly spent nearly $1 billion on land purchases surrounding California's Travis Air Force Base since 2018, raising concerns over national security and prompting a federal investigation according to NewsNation. The company has acquired almost 54,000 acres of land zoned for agricultural use, making it the largest landowner in Solano County as per SFist.
While Flannery Associates is registered in Delaware, a state known for allowing companies to withhold information about their business partners, little else is known about the mysterious group. The company's legal representation claims that Flannery is controlled by U.S. citizens, with 97% of its capital coming from U.S.-based investors. However, after eight months of investigation, federal officials have been unable to confirm these claims or determine the exact backers of the company.
As the company has ramped up its acquisitions since the beginning of the year, questions about its intentions have left lawmakers like California Rep. John Garamendi unsettled. Garamendi has stated that there are reasons to be concerned Flannery may have ties to China or other foreign adversaries. Flannery's land purchases closely border a significant portion of the base and stretch beyond into marshy regions near the Sacramento River in Rio Vista, far from Fairfield's urban center, SFist revealed.
The increasing rate of foreign entities purchasing land near military bases has been a rising concern. A now-thwarted deal involving Chinese-owned Fufeng Group's purchase of 300 acres of farmland near Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota raised suspicions over potential spying activities. Similarly, a Michigan project by Chinese electric vehicle battery maker Gotion has been delayed due to similar concerns.
In a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Flannery Associates stated that "no foreign person or group holds any significant interest or substantial control over Flannery, either now or at the time of any land purchase." ABC7NY reported. Yet, the ongoing secrecy surrounding the company's land purchases near a crucial military base continues to fuel suspicions and attract investigation from government and military officials.
