Law enforcement in the MAGA farmer’s home, business

On November 9, 2024By Littum

Federal and state law enforcement vehicles surrounded the North Naples home and Immokalee business of well-known farmer/grocer Alfie Oakes on Thursday.

Part grocer, part bakery, part butcher shop, part bar, Oakes’ $30-plus million Seed to Table is the popular haunt of the local GOP’s Make America Great Again wing as well as area foodies drawn to organic broccoli and craft beer.

When reached by phone, Oakes declined to comment, other than to say, “We’re looking into it, but everything is good.”

A man standing in the driveway of a metal Oakes building in Immokalee Thursday afternoon wore a Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) badge, indicating he is a member of the U.S. Department of Defense, which investigates terrorism, cybercrime and fraud. where Oakes Farms vehicles were seen entering Thursday, though some were turned away. The man’s shirt is marked “Firearms Instructor.”

Earlier in the day, multiple Florida Highway Patrol vehicles were at both the house and the business, according to WINK News, but the FHP referred questions to the US Secret Service.

John Meo, chairman of the Collier County Republican Executive Committee, fears these are weapons for federal law enforcement.

“We know they showed up and took some material,” he said. “It’s kind of funny that they’re doing it now. I think they’ll have info on January 6.”

In 2021, Oakes covered two busloads of Trump supporters heading to Washington, DC on January 6, 2021 for what Oakes called “the most peaceful beautiful demonstration of well over 1 million people that I have ever witnessed.”

Oakes previously served as the county’s GOP committeeman until he got into a high-profile fight with Collier Elections Supervisor Melissa Blazier over a late filing, and was barred from the primary ballot.

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The Secret Service declined to comment.

“The US Secret Service will not confirm the existence or status of an investigation,” the agency said via email.

However, Defense Department Office of Inspector General Mollie Halpern spokeswoman confirmed Thursday afternoon that DCIS agents are actively conducting law enforcement activities in Naples.

“I have no further information to provide at this time as it is an open investigation,” she said.

DCIS is the law enforcement arm of the DOD. DCIS special agents deploy worldwide to conduct investigations that significantly affect DOD operations, ranging from cybercrime to bribery, fraud, terrorism, government corruption and procurement fraud, Halpern said. “We play an integral role in protecting America’s warfighters.”

(This story was updated to add new information, including a photo gallery.)