Mysterious company buying land around USAF base sues farmers; feds probing

KARAH RUCKER: THE AIR FORCE BASE THAT SERVES AS THE MILITARY’S GATEWAY TO THE PACIFIC COULD BE THE TARGET OF A MASSIVE CHINESE SPY OPERATION ON THE U.S. MILITARY.

THAT’S THE STARK WARNING COMING FROM ONE CALIFORNIA CONGRESSMAN –

CITING CONCERNS OVER A MYSTERY COMPANY CALLED “FLANNERY ASSOCIATES” BUYING UP LAND SURROUNDING TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE ON THREE SIDES.

THIS STORY MIGHT SOUND FAMILIAR –

STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS WAS ONE OF THE FIRST MEDIA OUTLETS TO REPORT ON THE SUSPICIOUS LAND ACQUISITIONS AROUND THE BASE.

NOW – WE’RE LEARNING MORE. 

THAT’S LEAVING US WITH MORE QUESTIONS.

THE INVESTMENT FIRM FLANNERY ASSOCIATES IS PLASTERED ON LAND DEEDS – 

BUYING UP 52 THOUSAND ACRES FOR 800 MILLION DOLLARS –

OVER-PAYING FARMERS TO BUY UP LAND THAT SITS ON THREE SIDES OF THE AIR FORCE BASE.

AFTER AN 8-MONTH LONG INVESTIGATION –THE GOVERNMENT HAS NO IDEA WHO CONTROLS FLANNERY ASSOCIATES OR WHO IS FINANCIALLY BACKING THEM.

WHILE AN ATTORNEY FOR FLANNERY SAYS THEY ARE BACKED BY U.S INVESTORS AND CONTROLLED BY U.S. CITIZENS – FEDERAL OFFICIALS  CAN’T CONFIRM NOR DENY THAT.

AFTER THE NEWS OF FLANNERY OVER-PAYING FARMERS DOUBLE OR TRIPLE ITS LAND VALUE TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THE PROPERTIES –

FLANNERY IS NOW SUING THE FARMERS IT BOUGHT FROM – CLAIMING THEY INFLATED THE PURCHASE PRICE. 

THE ABNORMAL PRICE POINTS HAD LAWMAKERS SUSPICIOUS THE FIRM COULD HAVE TIES TO THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY.

CHINA IS KNOWN TO OVERLOOK LAND VALUES AND OVERPAY FOR U.S. SOIL – 

ACCORDING TO REPRESENTATIVE JOHN GARAMENDI WHO HAS BEEN INVESTIGATING FLANNERY FOR YEARS.

ACCORDING TO THE USDA –

384 THOUSAND ACRES IN THE U.S. ARE CHINESE OWNED.

OVER THE PAST 5 YEARS – U.S. FARMLAND BOUGHT UP BY CHINA HAS INCREASED 55 PERCENT.

WHICH MAKES GARAMENDI THINK – FLANNERY’S LAND PURCHASES COULD BE A SERIOUS NATIONAL SECURITY THREAT.

A GHOST COMPANY WITH A LOT OF MONEY FROM AN UNKNOWN SOURCE – NOW SURROUNDING AN AMERICAN MILITARY BASE.