The relocation of one of the largest and most important FBI offices in the country has cleared a small hurdle after the Prince William County Board of Supervisors rejected a broker’s claim that she was owed a cut of the moving costs.
After a closed session discussion on Tuesday, the supervisors turned away Michele Saggese of Tri-Point Inc., who claimed that she is owed a $260,000 for her help the FBI’s relocation.
“They did not see a basis in fact or law to her claim,” Deputy County Attorney Angela Horan said.
In a letter dated Aug. 22 to Martin Briley, executive director of the Prince William County Department of Economic Development, Saggese said she played an integral role in setting up the initial meetings between the county and the General Services Administration in January 2005.
“Understand the FBI would not be in Prince William County today without my efforts,” she told the supervisors Tuesday before their closed session.
Saggese claimed she was due 10 percent of the $2.6 million land sale. She did not return calls seeking comment Thursday.
An announcement was made in May 2005 that the GSA planned to locate an office building with more than 199,000 rentable square feet at Innovation@Prince William Technology Park west of Manassas. The value of the project was estimated at $32.6 million, and it will employ more than 300 people.
The ceremonial groundbreaking was held in August, and the building is expected to be finished and occupied by the end of next year.
It’s a vital Bureau office, charged with national security and espionage investigations and the focal point of counterterrorism efforts in the Capital.
The move will strip from the District a major FBI facility.
