KEATING & PELHAM ACCEPT DIRTY FUNDS?

We have spent quite a bit of time combing through the City of Frisco elected officials’ campaign finance reports and as we come across items of interest that seem questionable, we bring them to the public’s attention.  In our recent dive, we came across the name Veton Krasniqi, and it appears he made two substantial donations to two sitting council members.  We did a simple Google search of the name in Frisco, and we found a LinkedIn page with no details except self-employed.

The first time we come across his name is in John Keating’s campaign finance report for the period of January 16, 2021, through April 1, 2021.  It shows Veton Krasniqi donated $10,000 to John Keating’s campaign on March 10, 2021.  The report shows the address listed as 6400 FM423, #15109, Frisco TX 75026.  Immediately we noticed a red flag, because the zip code for the address, 75026, is not a Frisco zip code.  It is a Plano zip code located near the George Bush Tollway and Coit, almost near Richardson.

We searched just the address without the zip code which came back to a company called German All Construction, LLC according to Open Corporates.  It shows the “Agent Name” as Veton Krasniqi and the agent address as 6400 FM 423 #15109, Frisco TX, 75036.  We expected to find an office building but instead, we found the Courtland Apartments at Phillips Creek Ranch.   

The registered address for German All Construction, LLC on opencorporates.com comes back to 2552 Stonebrook Pkwy, Ste 402, Frisco TX 75034.  We decided to google that address to see what we could find, and it came back to Lit Smoke & Vape.  We don’t believe it was there in early 2021 but it did open later that year to some controversy which is detailed in a Frisco Enterprise and Dallas Morning News article. The article talked about how many parents and residents living in the area felt a Vape Shop at Stonebrook and Teel near an elementary, middle, and high school was inappropriate. 

We decided to go to the Texas Comptroller to view the franchise tax certificate for German All Construction, LLC.  It was registered on November 11, 2019, and appears to be active today.  It shows the mailing address at 2552 Stonebrook Pkwy, Ste 402, which is the Vape Shop, and the registered address appears to be the same apartments at 6400 FM 423.  When we clicked on the Public Information Report for 2023 it came back with two addresses.  The first address we have already seen in previous reports is 2552 Stonebrook Parkway.  The second address was new and belonged to a 1.544-million-dollar home in Phillips Creek Ranch on Tailwater Trail.  We decided to look the home up on Denton CAD which shows a Veton and Lena Krasniqi purchased it in August 2021.  It appears to have been transferred to a Family Trust in June of 2023, then the trust sold the home in October 2023.  Are you confused yet?  We are!

We continued to look through more campaign finance reports for other council members when we saw the name Veton Krasniqi again. This time it was not Keating’s finance report, it was Angelia Pelham’s finance report.   It appears Veton Krasniqi also donated $5000 to the Pelham campaign on May 15, 2021, just a few short months after he donated $10k to Keatings. 

The original campaign finance report filed by Pelham has Veton’s name and email address, where there is supposed to be an actual physical address.  We found an ethics complaint on file with the Texas Ethics Commission because report after report was inaccurate with emails instead of physical addresses which are required by the state election code.  Pelham was ordered to fix the incorrect finance reports, and when she did, she showed Veton Krasniqi’s address as 2552 Stonebrook Pkwy, Ste 302, Frisco TX 75034.

Immediately we had a red flag with Pelham’s corrected report because she listed the suite number as 302, which is different from Keating’s report which is 402.  We Googled the address using suite 302 and it appears that is the Mexican restaurant Dos Amigos.  We decided to look at Denton CAD and Viton Krasniqi is listed at 2552 Stonebrook Pkwy in suite 300B and the legal description says it is a restaurant.   

Can you guess what we did next?  Well, of course, we googled 2552 Stonebrook Pkwy, Ste 300B and we pulled up a Community Impact article from Feb 2019 which reports the Berlin Café is now open in Frisco serving German-inspired cuisine.  The article states the café opened in late December and is located at 2552 Stonebrook Parkway, Ste 300B in Frisco.  We looked up the Tax ID for Berlin Café on the Texas Comptroller’s website which shows it was owned by Veton Krasniqi.  Then we came across another article in Community Impact in March 2021 titled Berlin Café Rebrands as Dos Amigos in Frisco.   We decided to look up Dos Amigos Frisco on the Texas Comptroller’s website which showed it was registered in November 2020, but the franchise tax involuntarily ended.  According to OpenCorporates.com, it shows that on July 28, 2023, the restaurant filed for a tax forfeiture.  The mailing address is 2552 Stonebrook Pkwy, Ste 302 but the registered office address is 6400 FM 423, which is the Courtland Apartments. 

After all this research that left us completely confused, we were still wondering, who is Veton Krasniqi that donated $10,000 to Keating and $5000 to Pelham?  We filed a PIR for any communications between Veton Krasniqi, Keating, and Pelham.  We were shocked when we received notice that no sufficient records came up.  Two council members, two large donations, and neither of them communicated even once with the donor, not even a thank you note.   Um, we smell some shady shXt!

We decided to do a court record search for Veton Krasniqi and started in Denton, County.  We found eviction case after eviction case for Veton and Lena Krasniqi starting in Dec 2018 up to June of 2023.  Then we looked up court records in Collin, County and we found multiple debt cases from 2020 to 2023.  One involves his company German All Construction and Italia Day & Night LLC, otherwise known as Italian Village, which is registered at 5840 Legacy Circle, Ste D100, Plano TX.  Italian Village located in The Shops of Legacy was featured in D Magazine back in September 2021 if you are interested in learning more.

Veton Krasniqi had lots of problems that’s for sure, and just when we thought we had hit all the shXt we were shocked to find two very important lawsuits.  The first was filed by Frisco Independent School District for a total sum of $24,093.74 in back taxes against Veton and Lena Krasniqi.  It appears they didn’t pay taxes when living in the fancy million-dollar Phillips Creek Home.  Remember, this is the same time they donated to both candidates’ campaigns.

With all the money issues the Krasniqi’s had, where did they find funds to be big spenders and donate to local political campaigns?  Maybe, it was the money they ripped off from the United States of America (aka you and me and our tax dollars).  Maybe the answer is in the case of the USA v. Veton Krasniqi filed In The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Sherman Division indictment on Jan 12, 2023.  Krasniqi is accused of unlawfully and unjustly enriching himself by obtaining The Paycheck Protection Program, the Economic Injury Disaster Loan, and Restaurant Revitalization Fund loan proceeds through materially false and fraudulent pretenses, representations, and promises.  NOW THAT IS A WHOPPER! 

The indictment goes on to say the defendant (Krasniqi) used numerous restaurants and construction businesses including Berlin Café, Dos Amigos Frisco, German All Construction, Noahlena, and Foxtron to obtain multiple loans.  It goes on to say he used his personal and business bank accounts to receive, deposit, and transfer the funds.  It also accuses Veton of submitting materially false loan applications, lying about his qualifications, and intended use of the loan funds.  It also accuses him of helping his family members and business associates in submitting false loan applications.

The indictment states that on April 28, 2020, he received his first PPP draw of $82,500 and on the same day he transferred $82,400 to his personal account.  He then took out a cash withdrawal of $55,800, made approximately $15,000 in car payments, and transferred $9300 overseas. 

The business closed at the end of 2020 and then he submitted a second withdrawal PPP application on Berlin Café.  The indictment states on Feb 5, 2021, he received a SECOND draw PPP loan for $283,600 for Berlin Café, LLC which he claimed on the application would be used to retain workers, rent, utilities, etc., but the problem is Berlin Café had already permanently closed.  The same day he transferred the entire sum to his personal bank account.  We could go on and on but you get the drift the dirtbag was a fraud.

So how much did Veton Krasniqi defraud the US Government and taxpayers?  Buckle your seat belt, because he obtained over $2.25 million in funds earmarked for emergency pandemic relief that real businesses in our community could have used.   Let me summarize, he could not pay his school district taxes which hurts our kids, and he defrauded taxpayers (you and me), but he had money to donate $5000 to Angela Pelham and $10,000 to John Keating. As of today, neither of them has returned the money or offered to return the money.  

This is not the first time John Keating has taken money from questionable donors.  In October 2018, Keating took $5000 from Phillip Michael Carter who was convicted of bilking the elderly out 17.5 million dollars.  It was not till March of 2019 when Keating and Cheney were confronted by the DMN asking if they would return the thousands, they received from a criminal that they both said they would be returning the money.

Why does this continue to happen, better yet how does this continue to happen to our council members?  Cheney, Pelham, and Keating are all recipients of dirty funds.  It is funny I saw an ad the other day on social media, and it was Pelham’s video where she says over and over “YOU KNOW ME” – yeah, we do!  Then Keating boasts on his website Promises Made, Promises Kept which should read Promises Made, Promises Broken.

John Keating and Angelia Pelham, will you return the money to the federal government and taxpayers or return the money and give it to the school district towards his tax debt?  Let’s see if they do the right thing!

Keatings $100,000 Pyramid

Campaign finance reports are essentially the political world’s version of a receipt drawer—crumpled, confusing, and full of clues about who paid for dinner and who’s expecting dessert later. They’re those legally required spreadsheets where candidates reveal who’s funding their dreams of public service (or at least their yard signs), listing donors, amounts, and expenditures with all the excitement of a tax audit but twice the intrigue. Why do they matter? Because buried between the $50 “grassroots supporter” and the suspiciously generous “consulting fee,” you’ll often find the real story of influence, priorities, and alliances—like a financial whodunit where the plot twist is that the money usually knows exactly what it’s buying.

Frisco Chronicles has questioned current and former council members, as well as candidates campaign finance reports for a few years now.  You can read about those as we have attached the links at the end of this article to each blog.  Most recently we wrote about John Keatings two recent donations of $50,000 each for a total of  $100,000 from Frisco 380 Partners in our blog Follow The $100K and how we could not locate much information on them.

Recently The Community Difference NTX – powered by The Business Development Alliance held a mayoral debate at the Nack Theater.  An audience member asked a two-fold question

1) What is your philosophy of accepting campaign contributions from developers?  

2) Should there be a limit on the amount a contribution should be?

John Keating is the first to respond because everyone from coffee shops to whispers at lunch, want to know about that One Hundred Grand sitting in his campaign account.  Keating made a few points we will summarize or for more humor you can watch his 2 minute clip here.

Point 1: Keating begins by explaining that donations must come from an individual or a sole proprietor LLC.  The name of the individual donor is on there unless it is sole Proprietor LLC.  Keating continues a Sole Proprietor, “it is not a developer per se, I mean, it could be a developer.”   Not sure what Keating was trying to say here.

Point 2: Keating continues that over the past 15 years he has run several campaigns for council and one for state rep which cost him at least $200,000.  Then he pointed out that it is money he will never get back. 

Frisco Chronicles would like to be clear over the years Keatings employment on several of his campaign finance reports list him as a “stay at home dad” which is fine.  But Keating did not have an income other than his military benefits so for full clarity his “campaign races” were funded by his ex-wife who was the bread winner and went to work every day all the years they were married.  Keating should clarify his ex-wife is out $200K for those races because clearly, he did not have that kind of money on his own.

Point 3: Keating begins to explain the donor (his words vendor) is Primary Media, a digital billboard company owned by Josh Feferman and he is the individual who donated to the campaign. 

Why would a billboard company donate $100K?  Keating explains the company is based out of Dallas and over the years as Highway 380 was expanded they had to move and find a new place for the digital billboards.  Keating points out at that time Frisco did not have a digital sign ordinance.  At the same time Primary Media was negotiating with other cities to take down several traditional billboards and replace them with one digital billboard. Keating said that while working with him here in Frisco he also helped with those other cities to understand the benefit of the digital billboards. 

Keating then says back in September 2025 when he was having a conversation with Feferman he mentioned the campaign would probably cost about $200,000 and that is when Feferman said he was in for $100K!

Keating makes sure to point out, “I have not taken a dime from him over the years that we were working together because I didn’t feel that was fair as we were trying to build here in Frisco.” 

FACT CHECK TIME

Fact, Ronald Feferman also donated $5,000 to Jeff Cheney in his last mayoral race in 2023 which can be seen on his campaign finance report.

Fact, on a 2024 Campaign Finance Statement – John Keating shows a $20,000 donation made on 4/12/24 by Ronald Fefeman who is listed as the CEO of Primary Media!

Fact, a simple Google search reveals a memo that shows the Frisco City Council acted in August 2023 with Primary Media, LTD.  The memo subject reads, “Consider and act upon authorizing the City Manager to execute the First Amended Settlement Agreement by and between the City of Frisco and Primary Media, LTD.” 

Want to read the agreement then click here: First Amended Settlement Agreement

The Mayor and City Council (including John Keating) voted 6-0 to approve the “Consent Agenda” and that included Item 18 about Primary Media, LTD.  Interestingly the minutes read, Mayor Pro-Tem John Keating moved to approve Consent Agenda Items #15 through #32. Deputy Mayor Pro-Tem Angelia Pelham seconded the motion.”

Fact, according to Primary Media’s website, “Primary Media is a Dallas-based outdoor advertising company and the first digital billboard provider in Frisco, TX.”  The website also lists Josh Feferman as the CEO of Primary Media and identifies Ronald Feferman as the Real Estate and Government Relations contact for the firm.

Just wondering, is there any possibility Josh and Ronald are one and the same as a simple internet search reveals the name Ronald Josh Feferman and R Josh Feferman as the names associated with Primary Media, or is it just coincidence?

Trust Is Broken

So here we are, staring at the glowing billboard in the room—the one that flashes $100,000 in bright, undeniable lights—and we’re supposed to just…not squint?

Because if Keatings claim is “I have not taken a dime from him over the years,” then how does a documented $20,000 contribution from Ronald Feferman in 2024 fit into that narrative?  Is that a forgotten footnote…or a conveniently misplaced decimal in the story?

And if a $5,000 contribution went to Mayor Jeff Cheney’s campaign shortly before council action involving Primary Media, are we really expected to believe timing like that is just civic-minded coincidence?  Three months. A donation. Then a council item. No raised eyebrows?

Maybe the bigger question isn’t about one vote, but about the next one.  If another item involving Primary Media lands on the council agenda tomorrow, can John Keating truly walk into that discussion as a neutral party? Or does six figures—paired with prior contributions—quietly take a seat at the dais with him? Influence doesn’t always announce itself; sometimes it just shows up early, shakes a few hands, and waits patiently for the vote.

Keating is running for Mayor and his word MATTERS!  He lied!  He did take a donation in the past and it was not a small one!  It was $20,000 dollars.  Frisco deserves more than explanations that require this much interpretation. From a mayoral candidate, it deserves clarity that doesn’t change depending on which report you’re reading—or which microphone is on.

Because at the end of the day, this isn’t about one donation, or even one donor.

It’s about trust. Can we trust John Keating?  No!  Why?

He has made questionable personal decisions that became public.

He (along with Pelham) has taken dirty money in the past from Veton Krasniqi who was sued by Frisco ISD for back taxes of $24,000. 

He (along with Cheney) took donations in the past from Phillip Carter who bilked millions out of elderly investors.

He promised, in writing, he would support 4-men staffing for Frisco Firefighters then went back on his word when an election was over.

He knows as a Mayoral Candidate someone is bound to fact check his statements.  No one forgets a $20,000 donation less than two years earlier. The issues go on and on, and for once the public is asking whether the math adds up.  In his stories, it usually doesn’t! 

Disclaimer: This blog includes satire, parody, and comic relief.  It contains summarized accounts created solely for humor and commentary.  Any resemblance to real events is either coincidental or intentionally satirical.  Reader discretion — and a sense of humor — are advised.

Previous Blogs About Campaign Finance Reports

Follow The $100,000 – about John Keatings recent donation from Frisco 380 Partners and fellow opponent Mark Hill

Follow The Money (Part 2) – about Shona Sowell and Rod Vilhauers campaign finance reports

Who Failed The Campaign Finance Reality Check – look at campaign finance compliance across both Frisco ISD trustees and City Council candidates.

Double Standards or Honesty Matters: 2025 PAC Groups

Frisco Bought & Paid For: 2024 Safety First Frisco PAC,

The Election Fix: Politicians Pocket Change – 2024 Keating & Pelham

The Election Fix In Full Swing – John Keating Campaign Finance Transparency

Ping Pong With Campaign Money – 2024 Review of Campaign Pelham, Rummel

Dirty Funds: 2023 – Questioning the ethical donations by some on Keating and Pelhams reports

Dark Money: 2023 Cheney Campaign Finance Report

Frisco, Are You Ready For Some Football?  What big names are donating to council

The Cost of Doing Business – Cheney and Keatings Questionable Donations

Things That Make You Go Hmmm….

In 1991, an American Dance Group called C&C Music Factory released their third single, “Things That Make You Go Hmmm…” from their debut album, Gonna Make You Sweat.  Many don’t know this, but the song was inspired by a running gag on The Arsenio Hall Show, where Aresenio who often pondered certain thoughts on live TV would say “Things that make you go hmmm…”  The song had a catchy tune and the video that aired on MTV was done in all black and white. 

Well, my wife and daughter loved that song so much, it often played on repeat in our house.  Fast forward to today, when my wife and I do research, and we come across a golden nugget of information, we will look at the other across the table and say, “Things that make you go hmm!”  Whoever is on the receiving end of that statement usually gets excited to see what the other has uncovered. 

After we wrote our last blog asking the question regarding Keating and Pelham taking dirty money, we received a few emails from fellow whistleblowers.  One of the emails said we should look further into the connection between Keating and Dos Amigos, so we did! 

Now remember we filed a PIR with the city for any communication between Veton Krasniqi and Keating and Krasniqi and Pelham.  We were told there were no responsive records which we found odd. After receiving that email telling us to dig deeper, we decided to go back and look at the timeline of events:

3/10/21 – Crook Krasniqi donated $10,000 to John Keating’s campaign.

5/15/21 – Crook Krasniqi donated $5000 to Angelia Pelham’s campaign.

The timeline looked fine at first then we noticed something, the election was on May 1, 2021.  The first question we had was why did Krasniqi donate $5000 to Angelia Pelham, AFTER THE ELECTION?  Then we searched social media to see if we could find any connection between Keating and Dos Amigos, and then we searched Pelham and Dos Amigos.  Things that make you go hmmm…

John Keating documented election day in several social media posts.  The first post states he is voting in the Frisco Municipal Election with 3 other people.  He reminds residents that it is election day, and the polls are open till 7 pm.  He asked residents to cast their ballots, make their voices heard, and send him back for another term on the Frisco City Council.  He ended the post with “I would be honored to have you as my guest at our Election Night Party at DOS AMIGOS, 2552 Stonebrook Parkway, Frisco, TX 75034 starting at 7:30 pm as they watch the results come in.”

Then later that day he posts again, “Thank You Frisco for sending me back to YOUR city council for another three years!  I won’t let you down, and you ain’t seen nuthin yet!  Victory Party at “DOS AMIGOS!”  Things that make you go hmmm…

In past blogs, we have said that John Keating is the gift that keeps on giving, and we appreciate that here at Whistleblower.  After learning that Keating had his victory party at Dos Amigos, we decided to search his political campaign finance report for the party expense.  Then we also searched to see if Dos Amigos did an In-Kind donation.  No Chalupa!   Did Keating pay for this expense out of one of his private funds?  If yes, then why not use Campaign Money?   If he used campaign money, why is the expense not documented on any of his campaign finance reports?  Things that make you go hmmm….

As we searched for his Victory Party Expense, we found another interesting donation.  In February of 2022, John Keating donated $1000 to Frederick Frazier.  Then in June 2022, Frederick Frazier, a 28-year Dallas Police officer and freshman lawmaker was charged by a grand jury for two charges of impersonating a public servant.  The charges stem from allegations by his opponent Paul Chabot regarding political sign tampering.  Frazier who was re-elected in 2022 was able to delay the court case over a year due to his “legislative work” in Austin.  In December 2023 State Rep Frederick Frazier pleaded no contest to two Class A misdemeanor charges of attempting to impersonate a public servant.  He also pleaded guilty to a Class C misdemeanor charge of criminal mischief.  His plea deal included one year of deferred adjudication probation and several thousands of dollars in fines.  His plea came one day after he filed to retire from the Dallas Police Department.  The DPD released a statement that because Fraizer is retiring while under investigation, he will be released with a dishonorable discharge.   To this day Frazier denies he impersonated a code compliance officer.   Frazier is currently on the ballot in Collin County for re-election.   Things that make you go hmmm…

It is a Merry Go Round that just keeps on spinning!

Keating’s Illuminated Influence

Ever since Frisco Chronicles saw the number $50,000, $50,000 and $20,000 in John Keatings campaign finance report we wondered … why would one person or company donate so much money to John Keating?  Do you think someone donates that kind of money without expectation in return?  Keating’s post today is poetic to Frisco Chronicles report!

The Relationship

I am pretty sure others have been wondering the same thing and we did some digging. A little birdy in the city told us to do some research and we would find there is a QUID PRO QUO between Keating and “The Donor” aka Frisco 380 Partners. 

Frisco 380 Partners is an LLC owned and operated by Ronald Josh Feferman.  Feferman is also the owner of Primary Media (a billboard operator).  And here’s the kicker, that donation is directly tied to the same person who negotiated with the City of Frisco over 380 signage and who benefited from a 2023 settlement agreement allowing a digital billboard at 380 & Coit. Remember that, we will touch on it again shortly.

Simply put Frisco 380 Partners = the land/financial arm and Primary Media = the operating/signage arm.  That’s not illegal. But it’s also not subtle.

Frisco Becomes a Certified City

According to our city source Keating was corralling support for a sign despite it being illegal by TXDOT at the time.  City Council Meeting Minutes confirms that Keating was trying to get support, but as usual everything happened in “CLOSED SESSION” so we are limited to the actual details. 

Our source tells us that Keating, over City Attorney, Richard Abernathy’s OBJECTIONS, got city staff to apply to become a “Certified City!”

 What does that mean?  Under the Highway Beautification Act a city can get certified by TXDOT which allows the city to control its own outdoor advertising / sign permitting instead of the state.  Once a city is “certified” by Texas Department of Transportation:

The city—not TxDOT—issues permits for billboards and certain signage. The city gains local control over aesthetics and enforcement. It can shape how corridors look.

In plain English: certification = more local power, less state oversight and removes TXDOT’s watchful eyes at permit or application time.

Via the “Consent Agenda,” Frisco, Texas was officially certified on September 16, 2022.  Guess who made the motion to pass the consent agenda that day? Mayor Pro-Tem John Keating moved to approve Consent Agenda Items #15 through #30. Deputy Mayor Pro-Tem Angelia Pelham seconded the motion.  Coincidence?   Nope.

Donation Time

Furthermore, our city source told us that allegedly Feferman, through himself or sources, donated to several council members over the years.  Our source continued that several times talks were dead in the water but one councilman, one superman worked harder than ever for their big donation.  Can you guess who?  John Keating.

Who else did Feferman donate to?  From campaign finance reports we see the following:

Rob Cox on 10/9/2020 – Josh Feferman donated $2500

 *Rob Cox was on Planning & Zoning and ran for office

Angelia Pelham on 5/22/2021 – Josh Feferman donated $250.00

Jeff Cheney on 4/28/2023 (2023 Mayoral Race) – Ronald Feferman who owned Primary Media donated $5,000

John Keating on 4/12/2024 – Ronald Feferman donated $20,000

John Keating on 11/14/2025 – Frisco 380 Partners donated $50,000

John Keating on 12/30/2025 – Frisco 380 Partners donated $50,000

John Keating on 4/8/2026 – Frisco 380 Partners donated $20,000

What is the 2023 Settlement Agreement between the City of Frisco and Primary Media?

Supposedly, a billboard company with existing or claimed rights along US 380, tied to roadway changes, negotiated a settlement with the City of Frisco that allowed a digital billboard—despite a local ban—in exchange for resolving disputes and possibly removing other signs.

The 380 Billboard Deal: How a “Prohibited” Sign Went Up Anyway

Frisco residents are told the city bans digital billboards. The ordinance is clear. The message is simple: no flashing ads, no towering digital screens cluttering the skyline.

So how did one end up lighting up US 380 & Coit?  The answer isn’t via a permit, it’s a settlement. In August 2023, the City of Frisco quietly approved a “First Amended Settlement Agreement” with Ronald Josh Feferman’s company, Primary Media—the same operator behind the digital billboard now standing along one of the city’s fastest-growing corridors.

That agreement did something extraordinary: It carved out an exception to a citywide ban.

The sharper question is: What specific property or rights does Frisco 380 Partners hold along 380, and were those leveraged in the billboard agreement?  Because if the same entity owns the dirt, negotiates the sign, and funds the politics …then you’re not looking at separate events.  You’re looking at a strategy.

From Prohibited… to Profitable

Frisco’s sign code doesn’t leave much room for interpretation—digital billboards are prohibited. Yet under the settlement, one was not only allowed, but it was also effectively guaranteed. Why?  Because the deal wasn’t about permission, it was about leverage.

Feferman’s network of entities, including Frisco 380 Partners LLC, held interest along the US 380 corridor during a time of massive highway expansion. In Texas, billboard owners impacted by road projects often claim relocation rights—a powerful legal tool that can force cities to negotiate rather than deny.

The Trade-Off Nobody Talked About

These agreements usually follow a familiar script.  One, remove older static billboards.  Two, replace them with fewer, more lucrative digital displays.  Three,  lock in long-term rights tied to the land.  The public hears “less clutter.”  The operator gets more revenue per sign.

And buried in the legal language is the key phrase: “Notwithstanding city ordinance.” Translation?  The rules still apply—just not here.

The Timeline That Raises Questions

September 2022 – Frisco becomes a TxDOT-certified city, gaining control over billboard permitting

August 2023 – City approves settlement with Primary Media

Late 2023 – Digital billboard goes live on US 380

That sequence matters.  Because it suggests the billboard wasn’t simply inherited from state control—it was approved locally, after the city had full authority to say no.

Follow the Structure, Follow the Money

This isn’t just about one sign.  It’s about how a billboard operator, a real estate holding entity, and a city-level legal agreement …intersected at exactly the right moment along one of North Texas’ most valuable corridors.

The same network tied to the project has also surfaced in local political funding, raising a bigger question: Was this just a legal necessity… or a negotiated outcome shaped by influence?

The Question Frisco Hasn’t Answered

If digital billboards are banned in Frisco— Why was this one allowed? And more importantly: Would anyone else have gotten the same deal?

As for John Keating, he is dirty! As dirty as they come! He is bought and paid for by Feferman and that shows through the campaign finance reports. I bet as soon as Keating became Mayor, he would allow digital billboards all over the city. Maybe one outside Universal Kids to shine into Cobb Hill homes. They already have to look at a ugly hotel why not an electronic billboard?

REFERENCE TO OVERALL TIMELINE OF EVENTS:

June 18, 2019 – Receive legal advice regarding contract with Primary Media.

Aug 4, 2020 – Receive legal advice from city attorney regarding proposed changes to Primary Media agreement

April 21, 2020 – Consult with and receive legal advice from city attorney regarding proposed changes to Primary Media agreement

June 21, 2022 – Receive legal advice regarding amendment to the Primary Media Agreement.

May 2022 – Ordinance Change Reads: Consider and act upon adoption of an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Frisco, Texas, repealing Ordinance Nos. 11-06-21, 16-03-25 and 17-02-10, and amending Frisco’s Code of Ordinances, Ordinance No. 06-03-31, as amended, Chapter 70 (Signs); modifying certain regulations governing the erection, maintenance, and operation of signs. (Development Services/PC) ORDINANCE 2022-05-21

September 16, 2022: Via the “Consent Agenda,” Frisco, Texas was officially named a Certified City.  Mayor Pro-Tem John Keating moved to approve Consent Agenda Items #15 through #30. Deputy Mayor Pro-Tem Angelia Pelham seconded the motion. 

June 6, 2023 – Receive legal advice regarding amendment to the Primary Media Agreement

May Consider and act upon adoption of an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Frisco, Texas, repealing Ordinance Nos. 11-06-21, 16-03-25 and 17-02-10, and amending Frisco’s Code of Ordinances, Ordinance No. 06-03-31, as amended, Chapter 70 (Signs); modifying certain regulations governing the erection, maintenance, and operation of signs. (Development Services/PC) ORDINANCE 2022-05-21

Link To Ordinance: https://drive.proton.me/urls/A5TS1CFZQ0#2Msl194PT1Rn

Aug 15 2023 – Consent Agenda Item 18 was approved when Mayor Pro-Tem John Keating made the motion and Deputy Mayor Pro-Tem Angelia Pelham seconded the motion.

Item 18 Reads: Consider and act upon authorizing the City Manager to execute the First Amended Settlement Agreement by and between the City of Frisco and Primary Media, LTD. (CMO/BB)

Action Requested: Consider and act upon authorizing the City Manager to execute the First Amended Settlement Agreement by and between the City of Frisco and Primary Media, LTD.

Background Information: City Council authorized the Settlement Agreement on May 5, 2015. On or about June 2022, the Sign become inoperable and was removed due to planned TxDOT expansion of US 380, through TxDOT condemnation. City and Primary Media desire to amend the settlement agreement to allow for a new sign to be built at the southwest corner of US 380 and Coit Road.

The Settlement Agreement established the framework of responsibilities relating to the two static billboards located on US 380 and a proposed digital sign in the same location. The Agreement calls for the removal of the two static signs during the construction of the digital sign, so that the only remaining sign will be one digital sign. This is a ten-year agreement.  90 days after Primary Media receives its building permit from the City, the clock will start on the term of the agreement.

Disclaimer: This blog includes satire, parody, and comic relief.  It contains summarized accounts created solely for humor and commentary.  Any resemblance to real events is either coincidental or intentionally satirical.  Reader discretion — and a sense of humor — are advised.

Follow The $100,000

For some time now we have questioned the campaign finance reports of local leaders.  Back in February of 2023 we wrote about Dark Money where we laid out how individuals associated with the PGA, The Link, or Fields projects donated to our current sitting city council members.  If you haven’t read it, you should because it is alarming.  Then we asked the question, did Keating and Pelham accept “DIRTY FUNDS?”  We are talking about the $10,000 Keating took and $5000 Pelham took in 2021 from Veton Krasniqi, a man who appears to owe the school district $24,093.47 in back taxes.  How did we learn about this, a campaign finance report.  As we said they can be Shakespearean sonnets of bureaucratic paperwork.

Well Friends, we have hit that moment in every local election where you stop arguing about yard signs and start arguing about spreadsheets.  Campaign finance reports are in, the ink is dry, and the numbers are… well… robust. The kind of robust you usually only see in luxury hotel valuations and developer prospectuses.  

Let’s do what Frisco Chronicles does best: open the books, raise an eyebrow, crack a joke, and ask the questions everyone else is politely avoiding. Because when the money talks this loud, voters deserve to listen carefully.

Exhibit A: John Keating — “Show Me the Money” Edition

Mayor John Keating filed his January 12, 2026, campaign finance report covering 7/1/25 through 12/31/25, reporting $142,909.24 in Total Political Contributions.  That’s not couch-cushion money. That’s “somebody expects a return on investment” money.

Let’s stroll through a few highlights:

  • Myles Freeman, President of Wiley X Inc – $1,000
  • Joe Hickman, Blue Star Land – $1,000
  • Jordan Wallace, Wallace Ventures – $1,000
    • (Appears to be invested in a $130 million luxury hotel… casual.)
  • Gerrit Parker – $2,500
  • Ryan Griffin, Rockhill Investments – $5,000
  • James Webb – $5,000
  • James Webb (again) – $10,000

James Webb’s name kept nagging at us.  Turns out, we’d written about him before in “Election Fix: Developer Dreams & Dollars.” According to the DMN, Preferred Imaging LLC, headed by James H. Webb of Frisco, allegedly performed services requiring a supervising physician without one on-site. The company did not admit wrongdoing but still paid a $3.5 million settlement following investigations by federal and state authorities, including the Civil Medicaid Fraud Division.  So, here’s the uncomfortable question no one else is asking out loud: When Keating accepted Webb’s donation in 2017, should he have known about Webb’s past?  And knowing what’s publicly available now, why keep accepting the money? Did he have any concerns in 2026 taking two donations that totaled $15000?

Asking questions is not an accusation. It’s civic hygiene.

Then …the Real Jaw-Dropper

Frisco 380 Partners made two donations of $50,000 each. That’s $100,000. From a developer.  Let that marinate.

Who is Frisco 380 Partners? Great question. We tried to find them. Information is… sparse. Very sparse. Which only adds to the mystery.  Because when a developer writes a six-figure check in a local mayoral race, voters are allowed—no, obligated—to ask: What do they want?  What do they expect?  And will Frisco residents be paying the bill later?

Oh, and let’s not forget: HillCo PAC – $5,000

Exhibit B: Mark Hill — LLC Palooza 🎪

Mark Hill’s report shows: Total Political Contributions: $110,434.25

And this one read less like a donor list and more like a Chamber of Commerce speed-dating event for LLCs.  A sampling:

  • ARKONS Ventures LLC (Irving) – $15,000
  • Yash Vasti (Irving) – $10,000
  • Atchuta Rao Roppana (Frisco) – $10,000
  • CMSW Realty LLC – $5,000
  • Orange Roofing & Construction – $5,000
  • Lone Star Food Plano LLC – $5,000
  • Bawarchi Holdings LLC – $2,500
  • Trilock Foods, LLC (McKinney) – $2,500

Plus a long list of donors from Irving, Richardson, Southlake, McKinney, The Colony, San Antonio—which raises another question: Why does so much outside money care deeply about who runs Frisco?

Jennifer Luney donated $2,000 and we are curious if this is the same JL connected to the Visual Arts Guild of Frisco? We’re genuinely curious.

Now, Let’s Talk Law (Because This Part Matters)

Straight from the Texas Ethics Commission FAQ: Corporations (including nonprofit corporations) and labor organizations may not make political contributions in connection with Texas and local elections.

While the word “LLC” isn’t explicitly shouted from the rooftops, the practical effect under Texas law is clear: Individuals may donate personally.  Corporations and most LLCs may NOT donate directly to a candidate. 

LLCs with only individual members may donate if the contribution is properly attributed to those individuals—not the company.  Business entities can donate to ballot-measure-only PACs, not candidates.  So, the million-dollar (or $15,000) question becomes: Were these LLC donations properly attributed to individual members? Or were businesses writing checks directly to candidates?

Because that distinction isn’t trivia—it’s the law.

Final Thought: Residents Should Be Concerned

This isn’t Republican vs Democrat. This isn’t pro-growth vs anti-growth. This is about who gets heard in Frisco—and who gets drowned out by money. Residents should be asking loudly $100,000 grand from one developer. When developers, PACs, and LLCs dominate campaign finance reports, regular residents are left wondering whether their $25 donation, no donation—or their vote—still matters. For years you have heard voters in Frisco have voter apathy but maybe they just don’t think it will matter because our elections are bought and paid for. Voters are wondering if Frisco’s elections are bought, or merely… heavily leased?  And when City Hall opens for business, who exactly is the biggest client?  Next up, the other two mayoral candidates.