Northstar CEO Under FBI Investigation For Northern Virginia Amazon Facilities
The FBI has reportedly seized items from a Denver-based businessman in regards to a Virginia property deal.
Brian Watson, CEO of Denver-based Northstar Commercial Partners, had his cellphone and computer taken from his home, according to The Denver Post. Though Watson’s lawyer did not detail the specifics of the search warrants to either the Post or BusinessDen, both reported on an email sent by Watson in which he said the accusations against him were fraud and misappropriation of funds related to the company’s Amazon data centers.
In 2018, it was reported that Northstar would develop two data centers for Amazon in northern Virginia. Bisnow was unable to confirm if those facilities have been built.
Both outlets reported that Watson denied wrongdoings in his email.
Watson was the Republican nominee for Colorado state treasurer in 2018. During that time, the Denver Business Journal reported he was facing a lawsuit accusing him of breach of contract and civil threat.
Northstar Commercial Partners was founded in 2000 by Watson. As of February 2020, its portfolio has 42 properties across 15 states.
It recently sold a 40M SF medical office building in Lafayette, Colorado, for $12.8M to the county of Boulder.
Last summer, Bisnow reported Northstar purchased a six-story, Class-A office building in Houston for $27.4M.
