Daily Record FINANCIAL NEWS &
MONDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2016
Vol. 104, No. 030 • oNe SectioN
35¢ www.jaxdailyrecord.com
Drone Aviation has big Trump tie Despite Flynn’s impressive resume including 33 years in the U.S. Army, his appointment received little attention. Drone Aviation is, after all, a small company, albeit one with big plans. Flynn was an adviser to Trump during the campaign and was named national security adviser Nov. 17. Even after that appointment, Flynn was re-elected to Drone Aviation’s board at the company’s Dec. 6 annual meeting. However, Drone Aviation said in a follow-up Securities and Exchange Commission filing that Flynn informed the company Dec. 14 he will resign from the
board and as an adviser to the company as of Dec. 31. Drone Aviation is one of several business interests for Flynn that could have a conflict of interest in his new job, according to a Bloomberg News story. Bloomberg said government ethics rules “forbid executivebranch employees from having a financial interest in companies that do business with the agen-
cies they lead.” According to SEC filings, Drone Aviation was paying Flynn $3,000 a month and issued 100,000 restricted shares of common stock that would vest monthly over two years. He would earn a pro rata portion of those shares “in the event the Vice Chairman relinquishes his position and board seat prior to the expiration date” of his twoyear contract, the filings said. While questions have been raised about his business ties, his new position does not require Senate confirmation. Assuming Flynn completely BASCH CONTINUED ON PAGE 8
Mitch Stone, left, said he was surprised when Kelly Mathis was arrested in the Allied Veterans of the World gambling investigation.
‘ I had spent my entire career preparing for
Representing Kelly Mathis was something Mitch Stone says
Mitch Stone and Kelly Mathis have known each other for more than two decades. When Mathis was among 57 people arrested in what prosecutors called a $300 million gambling ring operated by Allied Veterans of the World, Stone didn’t hesitate to become his defense attorney. Representing Mathis was something Stone said he had spent his career preparing for. Mathis was found guilty of 103 gambling-related charges by a jury in October 2013, but appealed. In October, the 5th District
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Court of Appeal tossed out the convictions, saying Mathis’ defense team was not allowed to present key evidence at the trial. A new trial was ordered. The Florida Attorney General’s Office is appealing that decision to the Florida Supreme Court. Stone answered questions about the case, what it means to the legal profession and what it’s meant to him.
How well did you know Kelly Mathis before the Allied Veterans of the World case? What did you know about his reputation as a lawyer? I had known Kelly for over
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With The Loop Pizza Grill and Talon Marine LLC signing on as its first tenants, owners of Sadler Point Marine Center are preparing for more leases and designing a common area for lessees and community events. Owner Brooks Busey and consultant Jack Shad, an urban redevelopment specialist with Windmill Consulting LLC, are working on plans for the central common area of the former Pier 17 marine store. The architect is the Office of Architecture and Design. Busey said the building was deep and he wanted to turn the center of it into a useful asset, such as providing a social and break area for tenants and an area that could be used for public events. The city is reviewing a permit application for a $100,000 renovation of that area, dubbed “Sadler Commons” on building plans. Preliminary designs Busey show conference rooms, seminar/gallery space, and a café and lounge area with an outdoor covered patio. “My goal has always been to open up to the public a little bit more,” Busey said. He also envisions hosting training classes, such as boating safety and engine maintenance for boat owners. Sadler Point Marine Center — comprising Sadler Point Marina, a boatyard, boat dealership and the retail center — is at 4669 Roosevelt Blvd, along the Ortega River, behind Roosevelt Square. Busey owns the property with his family.
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From Staff
Flynn
Designing common area next for Sadler
File photo by Fran Ruchalski
As a company seeking U.S. government defense contracts for a big chunk of its business, Drone Aviation Holding Corp. can use all the friends in high places it can get. Well, the Jacksonville-based maker of tethered drones and lighter-than-air aerostats will have a big-time ally in the White House as the new administration settles in next month. Its former vice chairman will be Presidentelect Donald Trump’s national security adviser. Retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn was appointed to Drone Aviation’s board of directors and named vice chairman in April.
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20 years mainly through The Jacksonville Bar Association. We had both been involved in various committees and he selected me to chair the criminal law section when he became president. I knew Kelly was smart, organized and extremely thorough. I always considered him very professional and an excellent business law attorney. He was also a tenacious litigator. He had a good reputation as a lawyer and I believe he was well-liked. He had to be to be elected president of the JBA. I’m sure there are some who may not agree with me or who may not have appreciated his
style of advocacy, but I don’t think anyone would question his intellect and ability as a lawyer. What was your reaction when you heard he had been arrested? I was shocked. I knew his client list included those in the gaming industry since I had been involved in some cases that involved other clients he had also represented. Because of that, I was privy to some of the research and analysis that was involved here and I understood legally why there was a difference between STONE CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
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