A private security firm linked to Dolly Parton’s inner circle is at the center of a controversial arms deal with the Haiti National Police, according to multiple sources familiar with the situation. Fencebridge Strategic Risk, founded by Parton’s longtime manager Daniel Nozell and her nephew Bryan Seaver, finalized a multimillion-dollar agreement last year to supply semi-automatic rifles and ammunition as Haiti grapples with escalating gang violence that has claimed over 25,000 lives since 2021.
The arrangement raises significant concerns, particularly because Haiti is subject to a State Department arms embargo, which includes the police force. Former Congressman Mark Green (R-TN), who resigned from Congress in July 2025, reportedly became involved in the deal to assist with obtaining waivers necessary for the arms transfer. Green noted, “I said I could help you with getting the waivers for the gun-running opportunity,” citing his connections with lobbyists in Washington, D.C.
The deal was formalized just three months after Green’s resignation, intensifying scrutiny over his rapid transition to the private sector. He later invoiced $1,000,080 for his services, of which he has received $600,000. Compounding the situation is Ellie Soto, a U.S. citizen residing in Texas, who appears to act as a facilitator for the entire deal, though her exact role remains unclear.
Seaver, who previously announced Parton’s death, has made statements boasting about his involvement in international arms dealings, calling himself “literally an international arms dealer and mercenary.” The quick and seemingly unprofessional nature of the deal has raised further questions about its legitimacy.
The level of involvement of Dolly Parton herself remains uncertain. Nozell asserted that “Dolly never had anything to do with the company,” but legal representatives from Parton’s estate later requested that this quote not be published, a request that was declined. Nozell claims to have helped establish Fencebridge in 2015 but stated he is no longer associated with the firm since Seaver took control. The company was dissolved in Tennessee in 2020 and may have been reincorporated in the Cayman Islands.
Recent tensions have surfaced in Parton’s estate, with Nozell accusing Seaver of making threats against him and the legacy of the singer. This situation has led to a restraining order against Seaver, though he has petitioned the court to prevent it from becoming permanent, describing the alleged threats as a misunderstanding during a private conversation between friends.
As investigations continue, the implications of this arms deal and the tensions within Parton’s family and estate are likely to develop further.
