Dolly Parton's nephew, Bryan Seaver, and her longtime manager, Danny Nozell, have both been tied to a complex arms deal in Haiti that is still raising questions about the distribution of millions of dollars. The news arrives after Seaver was sued by Nozell, who claimed Seaver made threats of violence against him and members of the Parton family. So far no member of Parton's family has publicly supported this claim by the former manager.
Meanwhile, The Miami Herald reported that a security firm founded by Seaver and Nozell, called Fencebridge Strategic Risk, "entered into a multimillion-dollar agreement ... to supply the Haiti National Police with semi-automatic rifles and thousands of rounds of ammunition."
The Caribbean nation is struggling with
a years-long battle against violent criminal gangs, who have seized control of much of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and other areas. Unrest has cost more than 21,000 Haitians their lives since 2020, according to the United Nations. Haiti is subject to an arms embargo put in place by the U.S. State Department, so former Tennessee congressman Mark E. Green is said to have helped facilitate Fencebridge's acquisition of permits to make the deal. Green reportedly said he was paid $600,000 for his services.
A total of over $15 million dollars was allegedly paid by the Haitian government to another person connected to the deal, Texas resident Ellie Soto. Some of the ammunition was reportedly delivered, but "at least $7 million of Haitian public funds" are missing and the contract has not been fulfilled, the report said.
Fencebridge Security's chief operating officer, Andrew Day, who is also associated with Seaver's company Squadron Augmented Protection Services, LLC, told The Miami Herald that Fencebridge is a “registered and licensed arms broker and security and risk advisory firm." He said he has worked on arms deals for many years, but has not seen a delay like this previously. Day said Fencebridge has not been paid and cannot account for the money the Haitian government sent, which went through accounts linked to Soto.
The report said Nozell incorporated the firm in November 2015, and Seaver took over as CEO four months later. The state of Tennessee reportedly dissolved Fencebridge in 2020 but it was re-founded offshore in Grand Cayman. Nozell reportedly claimed that he stepped away from Fencebridge after Seaver took over and wasn't involved in the deal.
The Tennessean has requested comment from Seaver and Nozell, and is attempting to contact Green. We will update our reporting with any new information as the story develops.
Seaver was previously known as Parton's head of security. He was also the family member she chose to share news of her death on Aug. 25. The Haitian arms deal was first hinted at in court records filed by Nozell, after he asked a Tennessee court for a restraining order against Seaver. A text message sent by Seaver said "I’m literally an international arms dealer and mercenary." Seaver has said the claims in the lawsuit are "misleading" and denies making any threats.
Nozell told The Miami Herald that Parton herself had "nothing to do" with Fencebridge Security.
Chris Parton is a music reporter for The Tennessean. Follow him on Facebook and Instagram @partonikusmax. He is not directly related to Dolly Parton or her extended family.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Dolly Parton's nephew tied to an arms deal in Haiti that went gone wrong
