MONEY

The elephant at Amelia: The FBI investigation

TaMaryn Waters
Tallahassee Democrat
Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce held their 2017 Community Conference at the Omni Amelia Island Plantation August 12.

AMELIA ISLAND — The FBI investigation into prominent businesses and entrepreneurs was fodder for jokes and hushed conversations throughout Tallahassee’s annual business conference.

Some admitted the investigation is a cloud over the business community. Some wonder what the investigation and its outcomes will mean for Tallahassee’s reputation if corruption is revealed. Others say it’s merely a distraction from the collective work to elevate the local economy.

The conference, hosted by the Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce, was attended by more than 500 business professionals, including several who are named in the investigation.

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“All of us want to figure out what’s going on, without a doubt,” Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum said. “I think we have to hedge by not trying to get in front of what the facts are telling us.”

Gillum, a gubernatorial candidate who’s mostly been tight-lipped about the investigation, said several conference attendees spoke freely about the investigation and offered encouraging comments, such as, “I’m glad you’re here” and “Keep your head up.”

“I appreciate that,” he said. “It makes me feel like there is really good community support and it also makes me feel encouraged to keep working. We don’t have to be in a pause position while we figure this out.”

Two years ago, an apparent undercover FBI agent by the innocuous name of Mike Miller attended the chamber’s annual conference and posed as an eager developer and owner of Southern Pines Development, which appears to be a made-up company. Over time, Miller and other undercover agents met with several elected officials, top city and county administrators and planners to ferret out corruption, according to sources close to the investigation.

In June, the city of Tallahassee and the Community Redevelopment Agency jointly received two separate grand jury subpoenas from the FBI and the U.S. Attorney. The subpoenas requested emails and other documents from the CRA and a who's who of Tallahassee business leaders, developers and political players.

Those named include Adam Corey, developer of the city-backed Edison restaurant in Cascades Park and a former campaign treasurer for Mayor Andrew Gillum; John "J.T." Burnette, an entrepreneur known for redeveloping the Hotel Duval; Kim Rivers, principal of InkBridge and CEO of Trulieve, a licensed medical marijuana dispensary; Paige Carter-Smith, executive director of the Downtown Improvement Authority and a longtime business associate of City Commissioner Scott Maddox; and Governance Inc., Maddox's former firm.

Kim Rivers at the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce's annual Community Conference August 12 at the Omni Amelia Island Plantation.

Burnette, Rivers, Carter-Smith and Maddox attended the conference, mingling at major sessions and chatting with close friends at the Water Buffalo Pool Party  or dancing to high-octane songs during Saturday’s reception.

In a short interview with the Tallahassee Democrat, Burnette was measured when talking about the investigation.

“I think it’s just a process,” Burnette said. “I think there’s a cloud over the community related to it … I think Tallahassee will persevere.”

He went on to say, “This is just a flash in the pan” and hadn’t thought about whether the investigation clouded the tone of the conference.

J.T. Burnette at the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce's annual Community Conference August 12 at the Omni Amelia Island Plantation.

Burnette, who appeared to have arrived late in the day, seemed unfazed by what seemed to be an elephant at the conference.

“People comment and make jokes,” he said. “Whatever.”

Instead of ducking, several attendees with a microphone took that elephant head on. Gary Yordon, a former county commissioner turned political consultant and conference emcee, dove in head first with his jokes.

“Would any undercover FBI agents please stand,” he said, triggering laughter. No one did until Yordon said the undercover FBI agent going by the name of Mike Miller was in the audience.

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It wasn’t him. But Pam Davis, executive director for Kids Incorporated, stood and waved to the audience.

Even Yordon, who once worked for Governance, said there’s a cloud over the community, noting it’s been a “strange summer.” He referred to wildfire chatter about the investigation and news coverage of the probe as "noise."

More jokes continued on the last leg of the conference.

Steve Ghazvini, one of the developers backing Canopy, a massive project with homes, retail and amenities, was on stage to talk about the project. Before doing so, Ghazvini told the audience he was really a developer. He opened his jacket and said he wasn’t wearing a wire.

Leon County Commissioner Kristin Dozier at the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce's 2017 Community Conference August 12 at the Omni Amelia Island Plantation.

County Commissioner Kristin Dozier, who met with Miller, said she’s heard more talk about the need to improve the community than Mike Miller and FBI gossip. But she admits she’s concerned about the long-term impact.

“There are so many good things happening. So many people working to improve business and make our community better. We don’t want to lose track of that,” Dozier said. “I don’t see evidence right now that it’s bad for Tallahassee. I think it’s the perception.”

A Tallahassee-specific target industry study is underway so economic, business and elected officials can better understand where resources should flow for growing business. Dozier said if a prospective company stumbled on news of the FBI investigation through a Google search and the city’s reputation is tarnished in the future, “that is going to be a problem.”

“I think it’s on us to make sure we keep telling the good stories,” Dozier stressed. “Whatever happens with this, my hope if anything happens with this, is it’s specific and we don’t lose track of how many good things have happened in recent years.”

Chamber Chairman Reggie Bouthillier, a Tallahassee attorney, also said the FBI investigation isn’t positive for the community. He called the issue a “distraction.”

“While we have challenges in our community, none of them should prevent us from moving forward in a collaborative and responsive way,” he said. “Out of the investigation, the FBI will determine any wrongdoing … It’s an isolated distraction. We have so many other positive things we should be highlighting for us and the rest of the world.”

Contact TaMaryn Waters at tlwaters@tallahassee.com or follow @TaMarynWaters on Twitter.