This Pricey Land Deal Stinks—Here’s why

 

This Pricey Land Deal Stinks—Here’s why

I live in the country, as most might describe it, where smells from various agricultural operations can sometimes be expected and in most cases accepted. It’s part of country living and I’m okay with that.

One smell we get occasionally, though, is when the field across the road we live on gets fertilized with chicken manure. At least that’s what I think it is. After harvesting each year, the field is left fallow for several months, then truckloads of some kind of stuff that wreaks with an odor similar to week-old roadkill appear. Two, maybe three piles - 5-10 feet high - left in the sun. Which is bad, just not horrible bad. But then the spreaders arrive a week or two later and start broadcasting that stuff across the field. Well, that’s when the rank can be so bad it will keep you indoors with all the windows closed spraying camphor up your nose until the wind shifts … which it eventually does, and we get back to the country living we are so thankful to be able to enjoy.

But, having said such, there is a growing smell coming from Tallahassee that is just as odorous and offensive, if not worse, that just isn’t going away and is getting way more objectionable.

In today’s St. Pete Times, the frontpage headline was “Lobbyist wrote proposal for land deal.” It’s more about that land purchased by the Florida Cabinet for four acres of panhandle beach sand up in Destin for $83 million of your dollars meant for the Wildlife Corridor you’ve been reading about.

It’s a purchase authorization at Florida’s highest level that came out of nowhere, was not on any conservation list where such proposals are deeply vetted to assure they are appropriate land buys for conservation purposes, and was approved by Governor DeSantis, Ag Commissioner Wilton Simpson, and Attorney General Ashley Moody. The only Cabinet member who did not vote in support was Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia but later inferred it was okay because it was such a done deal.

Here's why the stench is wafting ever more repugnantly across our beloved state.

1.      Massive overpayment:

·       The state paying over 10 times what the seller originally paid—$83 million for land bought for ~$8 million in 2016–2017.

·       Seller-controlled appraisals: The budget language allowed use of appraisals commissioned by the seller, undermining impartial valuation.

·       No competitive review: The deal leapfrogged other conservation priorities without undergoing standard cost-benefit analysis.

2. Procedural Manipulation

• Lobbyist-written budget language: A lobbyist for the landowner hand-delivered the purchase language to a legislative aide, which was later inserted into the state budget.
• Fast-tracked approval: The deal was rushed through with minimal public scrutiny, and bundled with other projects to avoid individual debate.
• Opaque process: The budget provision didn’t name the parcel, owners, or price—concealing key details from lawmakers and the public.

3. Conservation Concerns

• Low ecological value: The land is a sandy peninsula in a heavily developed area, not part of the Florida Wildlife Corridor it was funded through.
• Misuse of conservation funds: Money earmarked for protecting critical wildlife habitat was diverted to buy land with limited environmental benefit.

4. Political Favoritism

• Seller is a major GOP donor: Robert Guidry, who controls the land-owning LLCs, has donated hundreds of thousands to Florida politicians including Gov. DeSantis.
• Cabinet members voted despite donor ties: DeSantis and Attorney General James Uthmeier, both recipients of Guidry’s donations, voted to approve the deal.

5. Public and Internal Dissent

• Outrage from lawmakers and conservationists: Even Republican officials expressed confusion and concern over the deal’s speed and cost.
• Cabinet member objected post-vote: CFO Blaise Ingoglia voiced concerns after the vote, but DeSantis dismissed them as the deal was already bundled and approved.

This is a textbook case of corruption at the state’s highest level. Hopefully, a Grand Jury investigation will be initiated and indictments could be forthcoming. BUT, in this day and age where a former Grand Jury found little concern for one of the greatest cases of multiple child predation by a leveraged multimillionaire ever, and basically let him off with a slap of his hand, I’m not confident the smell is going to get any better soon, as the air in Florida grows ever more foul.

In any case, there is no public record or credible news report confirming that a grand jury has been initiated. The situation remains controversial, and calls for investigation continue, but no formal legal action has been reported

The following is based upon my inquiry and a response by Microsoft’s Copilot

Current Status

• No formal grand jury or criminal investigation has been publicly announced regarding the $84 million Destin land deal as of late October 2025. The deal has generated significant controversy, media scrutiny, and calls for investigation, but there is no official confirmation of legal proceedings or investigative actions by law enforcement or the courts.

What Happens Next?

1. Public and Media Pressure

• Journalists and advocacy groups continue to investigate and publish findings about the deal’s origins, the role of lobbyists, donor influence, and procedural irregularities. This ongoing scrutiny may prompt further action from oversight bodies or law enforcement. [yahoo.com]

2. Legislative Oversight

• State lawmakers and Cabinet members who objected to the deal (notably CFO Blaise Ingoglia) may push for legislative hearings or request an official review of the transaction. Such hearings could examine the budget process, appraisal methods, and the bypassing of standard conservation vetting.

3. Potential for Audit or Review

• The Florida Auditor General or other state oversight agencies could initiate an audit of the purchase, focusing on whether taxpayer funds were used appropriately and whether the deal complied with state law and conservation priorities.

4. Legal or Criminal Investigation

• If evidence of wrongdoing emerges—such as fraud, bribery, or misuse of public funds—state or federal prosecutors could open a formal investigation. This could lead to subpoenas, interviews, and potentially a grand jury if criminal charges are considered. However, as of now, there is no public indication that this step has begun. [yahoo.com], [yahoo.com]

5. Community and Political Response

• Local officials and community groups may continue to demand transparency, public comment, and accountability. The controversy could influence future land deals and prompt reforms to prevent similar situations. [weartv.com], [floridarea...tewire.com]

Key Points from Recent Coverage

• The deal was fast-tracked and bundled with other purchases, limiting individual debate and public comment.
• The seller is a major political donor, and the purchase price far exceeded the original acquisition cost.
• Lawmakers and conservationists have expressed confusion and concern, but procedural hurdles have so far prevented reversal or deeper inquiry. [yahoo.com], [yahoo.com], [midbaynews.com]

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Summary:
The next steps depend on whether public pressure leads to legislative hearings, audits, or a formal criminal investigation. At present, the most likely immediate actions are continued media investigation, possible legislative review, and calls for an official audit.

Sandspur