The company’s response — shared with Project Salt Box — describes how an unsolicited offer turned a vacant Maryland building into a $102.4 million federal purchase.
A few years ago, an adviser from a major financial institution aggressively pushed my husband and me to invest in REITs. After doing a bit of reading, I told my husband I was not interested in that path at all. Along with other concerns, the kind of scenario you describe here was on my mind. These REITs seem shady as hell, and I had little trouble envisioning our money being tied up in purchases of commercial property in ways that do not align with our values. Although I admit, I did not see detention camps coming. We dropped that bank last year.
Many, many years ago, I researched REITs... and you made the right decision to stay away. On almost any of the investment instruments if you aren't on the inside you loose. Their tactics and ethics are not always aligned properly.
Thanks, Henry — it’s good to have my instincts confirmed, but also infuriating to know these businesses are misleading their customers. My husband read recently of investors who were trying to withdraw their money from some of these funds, but the fine print dictates they are locked into these funds and can’t access their own money. They’re marketing these to people nearing or in retirement, who don’t have working years ahead of them to rebuild investment money when the market goes down. It seems dishonest and exploitative to me.
I've been saying follow the money. We keep finding new shells and layers to this mess. After hearing how much Noem spent on an ad, I'd say we're clearly following a money laundering scheme the likes of which even Al Capone would be hesitant to get involved with. I would also look into the the ties with IMF....
There is another company which has been advising/brokering several of these DHS warehouse sales. NEWMARK. Newmark is one of the family businesses that Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick, handed over to his sons/family when he accepted his cabinet position.
Elizabeth Warren headed up a group of 27 federal legislators December 2025 who wrote a letter to an Inspector General asking the IG to look into possible conflicts of interest with the Secretary and all the land deals Newmark was participating in while Lutnick was promoting data centers last fall. I have been wondering if the same thing may be happening with Newmark’s involvement in several DHS warehouse sales. I contacted all 27 of the federal legislators to possibly look into this since they’re already questioning Newmark’s land deals for data centers, but have not heard back.
OMG. As a past licensed Realtor, it's true - fiduciary duty is prime. OTOH duty to inform of materiel facts is also important. The investors can sue, should sue, and insist any non'transparent deal be rejected out of hand and require investor vote in the case of Obviously extreme situations.
Umm … “In early 2024, CBRE completed its acquisition of J&J Worldwide Services, a government facilities contractor, for up to $1 billion. The deal was led by J&J’s chief executive, Steven Kelley.
Shortly after, Kelley proposed that CBRE and J&J pursue contracts supporting the Trump administration’s immigration detention expansion, according to reporting by Bloomberg. CBRE’s leadership rejected the plans. Kelley departed the company in August 2024.”
Early 2024?!? Something smells really bad here… always follow the money
Is this what all the Warehouse "Detention Centers" will be used for? People Rounded Up @ No Kings Protests? Journalists? Anyone that dissents-which means Us⁉
Project Salt Box is doing an amazing Public Service keeping us informed. GO TO projectsaltbox@substack.com TO KEEP INFORMED ON THE STATUS OF WAREHOUSE DETENTION CENTERS-THEY HAVE A TRACKER RIGHT @ THE TOP OF THE PAGE. Many Judges are doing all they can-however this Administration is going to keep pounding on the Bench.
Shareholders is the reason America is like this. Everything is about the sanctity of cash, the piety of enrichment, and never about human beings. Cash is God.
A few years ago, an adviser from a major financial institution aggressively pushed my husband and me to invest in REITs. After doing a bit of reading, I told my husband I was not interested in that path at all. Along with other concerns, the kind of scenario you describe here was on my mind. These REITs seem shady as hell, and I had little trouble envisioning our money being tied up in purchases of commercial property in ways that do not align with our values. Although I admit, I did not see detention camps coming. We dropped that bank last year.
Janet,
Many, many years ago, I researched REITs... and you made the right decision to stay away. On almost any of the investment instruments if you aren't on the inside you loose. Their tactics and ethics are not always aligned properly.
Thanks, Henry — it’s good to have my instincts confirmed, but also infuriating to know these businesses are misleading their customers. My husband read recently of investors who were trying to withdraw their money from some of these funds, but the fine print dictates they are locked into these funds and can’t access their own money. They’re marketing these to people nearing or in retirement, who don’t have working years ahead of them to rebuild investment money when the market goes down. It seems dishonest and exploitative to me.
I've been saying follow the money. We keep finding new shells and layers to this mess. After hearing how much Noem spent on an ad, I'd say we're clearly following a money laundering scheme the likes of which even Al Capone would be hesitant to get involved with. I would also look into the the ties with IMF....
There is another company which has been advising/brokering several of these DHS warehouse sales. NEWMARK. Newmark is one of the family businesses that Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick, handed over to his sons/family when he accepted his cabinet position.
Elizabeth Warren headed up a group of 27 federal legislators December 2025 who wrote a letter to an Inspector General asking the IG to look into possible conflicts of interest with the Secretary and all the land deals Newmark was participating in while Lutnick was promoting data centers last fall. I have been wondering if the same thing may be happening with Newmark’s involvement in several DHS warehouse sales. I contacted all 27 of the federal legislators to possibly look into this since they’re already questioning Newmark’s land deals for data centers, but have not heard back.
We need Elizabeth Warren cloned. God knows there are enough of these conflict of interest cases to keep an army of her busy.
Newmark is a giant company based in NYC (at least last I knew). I am not surprised that they've got their hands in this.
OMG. As a past licensed Realtor, it's true - fiduciary duty is prime. OTOH duty to inform of materiel facts is also important. The investors can sue, should sue, and insist any non'transparent deal be rejected out of hand and require investor vote in the case of Obviously extreme situations.
Good to see people sharing these situations with you and your team. Excellent reporting!
Thank you for laying out the specifics of the scheme, and the blatant attempts to veil DHS money from scrutiny. It's horrific.
Umm … “In early 2024, CBRE completed its acquisition of J&J Worldwide Services, a government facilities contractor, for up to $1 billion. The deal was led by J&J’s chief executive, Steven Kelley.
Shortly after, Kelley proposed that CBRE and J&J pursue contracts supporting the Trump administration’s immigration detention expansion, according to reporting by Bloomberg. CBRE’s leadership rejected the plans. Kelley departed the company in August 2024.”
Early 2024?!? Something smells really bad here… always follow the money
Wait. Kelley was doing this stuff in 2024 before the election?
As Trump said, “We'll have it fixed so good. You're not going to have to vote.”
And...Here we go-This is how it starts-the Precedent is now set.
🚨Anti-ICE Protesters Convicted on Terrorism Charges for Wearing All Black https://theintercept.com/2026/03/13/ice-protesters-terrorism-prairieland-antifa/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=The%20Intercept%20Newsletter
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Is this what all the Warehouse "Detention Centers" will be used for? People Rounded Up @ No Kings Protests? Journalists? Anyone that dissents-which means Us⁉
Project Salt Box is doing an amazing Public Service keeping us informed. GO TO projectsaltbox@substack.com TO KEEP INFORMED ON THE STATUS OF WAREHOUSE DETENTION CENTERS-THEY HAVE A TRACKER RIGHT @ THE TOP OF THE PAGE. Many Judges are doing all they can-however this Administration is going to keep pounding on the Bench.
We Must all do Everything we can to stop this.
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Very good reporting thank you!
Shareholders is the reason America is like this. Everything is about the sanctity of cash, the piety of enrichment, and never about human beings. Cash is God.