Former Plantation Mayor Vera-Lynn Stoner faces charges that she illegally tried to help Invesca Development Group advance its project.
During her tenure as an elected official, Stoner issued a letter from the mayor’s office falsely claiming that Strata Group LLC had fixed code violations — an alleged attempt to help the company secure a loan, according to a complaint affidavit filed by the Broward County State Attorney’s office. In addition, Stoner is accused of pushing a Plantation building official to allow Strata Group to build a project called Pixl without proper permits.
Strata Group is tied to Plantation-based Invesca Development Group, led by Michael and Bernard Hsiao, according to state corporate records.
Invesca’s Pixl project is a planned 330-unit multifamily development on a 6.7-acre site at 4300 Northwest Ninth Court in Plantation. In September, the firm scored a $76.5 million construction loan for Pixl and filed a notice of commencement of construction soon afterwards.
Invesca’s website also lists a planned Strata community in Plantation, describing it as a 147-townhome development with 21 buildings on 13 acres.
Stoner, 69, issued the letter in 2020 from the mayor’s office stating the developer had cleared code violations after a building official refused to succumb to her alleged requests that he write the letter, according to a news release from the state attorney’s office. In 2020, Stoner had “attempted to coerce, trick, persuade, or otherwise influence” the official to “do her a favor” and write the letter, the release says.
Prosecutors do not specify which Invesca project the letter was allegedly geared to help.
Stoner turned herself in to authorities on Tuesday and was released on her own recognizance. She is charged with one count each of official misconduct and falsification of records, as well as two counts of influencing a building official.
She will plead not guilty at her arraignment, which is expected in two to three weeks, said her attorney, Larry Davis.
“Plantation is one of only two cities in Broward County that has a strong mayor form of government,” Davis said. “[Former] Mayor Stoner was exercising her administrative authority pursuant to the city charter.”
Unlike a weak-mayor form of local government, in which the mayor serves a largely ceremonial role, a strong-mayor system allows the official broad administrative powers.
Neither Invesca nor its executives are named or charged by the state attorney’s office.
The firm could not be reached for comment, as no one responded to calls to Invesca’s office.
Bernard Hsiao also did not answer calls and texts sent to a phone number listed for him.
Founded by the late Christopher Forest Longsworth in 2001, Invesca also offers property and construction management services, according to its website. Its projects include a planned 10-story Modulus condominium, as well as Strata and Pixl. The three developments are aimed to be a master-planned community.
Longsworth died in 2021 at age 36. Michael and Bernard Hsiao now lead the firm.
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