Firm questioned Gregory Gerami in investigation of FAMU gift that caused 'bumps and hurts'

Gregory Gerami, the man whose dubious $237 million donation to Florida A&M rocked the university's reputation, says he is cooperating with an independent firm that is investigating the gift.

In an interview with the Tallahassee Democrat, the Texas hemp farmer said he was "sad and upset" to learn Larry Robinson is stepping down as FAMU's president, but he doesn't believe the donation was a major contributing factor to his plans.

He also confirmed he's been questioned as part of an independent investigation commissioned by FAMU on the donation's validity and what led to a premature graduation announcement of what was supposed to be the largest gift in HBCU history.

"I wish that things would be different, but I can't change what they are," Gerami said. "All I can do is be as transparent legally as I can and provide legal documentation that I'm legally allowed to provide and make myself available to anybody from the FAMU Foundation or Board of Trustees or even the Board of Governors for any questions."

FAMU, the top public historically Black university in the nation, is still reeling after the May 4 spring commencement where Gerami, CEO of Batterson Farms in Texas, and Robinson stood on stage to announce the gift.

At the time, Gerami declared to much applause, "The money is in the bank."

But it wasn't.

Instead he transferred 14 million shares of stock of indeterminate value that could be worth $300 million or nothing, according to one FAMU Foundation board member.

FAMU went from utter jubilation to ceasing conversations with Gerami and the pursuit of the gift within days. Troubling details about Gerami surfaced, including an arrest on a family violence charge, discrepancies about his company and associates and several failed attempts to make large donations at other universities.

To make matters worse, university officials said they were bound by a non-disclosure agreement between him and FAMU that kept key officials in the dark about donation details, which were later released to the Democrat.

The fallout prompted the resignation of Robinson's right-hand woman Shawnta Friday-Stroud, who relinquished her role as vice president for University Advancement and executive director of the FAMU Foundation. She continues to work as dean of the university's School of Business & Industry.

Gerami gives some details about being questioned for investigation

Friday-Stroud's resignation came just before a May 15 special meeting by the FAMU Board of Trustees who voted to hire an external firm to comb through the details that led to FAMU's acceptance of a dubious gift from the Isaac Batterson Family 7th Trust, where Gerami is a family representative.

Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, a law firm headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, will determine a detailed timeline of events and a review for compliance with policies, processes and financial controls.

Last last month, Gerami said he received a request to be interviewed; he provided responses about a week or two ago.

It wasn't an in-person interview. When asked if it was a phone or video call, Gerami offered a cagey response and said, "Electronically, that's all I care to say." He said the interview was led by Michael McLaughlin, an attorney with the firm, who is heading up the investigation.

Gerami said the interview "took a while," adding he fielded many questions but declined to give specifics on what was asked.

"I can't really say as it is an ongoing investigation," he said, although he said he wasn't legally restricted from talking about the details. "I just think since it's an ongoing investigation ... that I shouldn't speak into the context. But I can say that, obviously it was regarding the gift, and different components of the gift, including the evaluation.

"I would say it was in depth. The problem is, and this has been the problem since day one, I can't disclose certain things because it would be breaching contractual and confidentialities within our contracts ... So their questions are very in depth. Some things I cannot answer, because it would be breaching NDAs with clients."

The investigation could be complete before the month's end. University officials have said they will not comment on the donation while the investigation is ongoing.

Gerami: 'The president is a good man'

On Friday, FAMU announced Robinson's plans to step down as the university's 12th president. It's not immediately clear when Robinson will officially leave or who will be named the interim president.

While Gerami admits controversy surrounding the donation may have been a factor in Robinson's resignation, he doesn't believe it's the sole reason. He pointed to other challenges under Robinson's watch, specifically FAMU falling short of meeting benchmarks for its professional licensure programs — law, nursing, pharmacy and physical therapy.

"He's done a lot of great things for FAMU and been a friend to FAMU and a great supporter of FAMU," said Gerami, regarding Robinson and also said the resignation came, to him, as a surprise after the FAMU Foundation's recent vote of confidence.

"The president is a good man," he added. "He's done a lot of great things for FAMU and for the community, and I'm sad to see him resign and leave FAMU. I'm sad this gift has gone sour the way it has and has caused, on both sides, a lot of bumps and hurts."

Contact Economic Development Reporter TaMaryn Waters at tlwaters@tallahassee.com and follow @TaMarynWaters on X.