VERO BEACH — A Texas property management company and its principal have sued a local conservative podcaster, a former Fox News commentator and several Indian River County Republican officials, accusing them of launching a coordinated smear campaign that falsely branded the firm as part of a radical Islamic plot to build a “Sharia Law” enclave in Florida.
EPIC ESTATES FL LLC and Venkatesh Yerramsetty filed the 55-page complaint Friday in circuit court, seeking more than $50,000 in damages for defamation and civil conspiracy. The plaintiffs say the false accusations cost them a $30 million land sale, drove up security costs and forced them to spend months reassuring buyers, officials and neighbors that they have no religious agenda.
“This is an action for damages exceeding $50,000 arising out of claims for defamation and for civil conspiracy to defame,” the lawsuit states.
The trouble began Sept. 9, 2025, when Yerramsetty addressed the Indian River County Board of County Commissioners during public comment. He described Epic Estates’ 7,000 acres of former citrus groves west of Interstate 95 as a potential future home for a group of software engineers from across the country who wanted to retire in Vero Beach. He mentioned possible zoning changes for residential, affordable housing or commercial use — nothing about religion.
Within weeks, podcaster Joann Binford seized on the remarks. In her Oct. 11, 2025, episode of “The Binford Chronicles,” she called Yerramsetty’s Indian...
VERO BEACH — A Texas property management company and its principal have sued a local conservative podcaster, a former Fox News commentator and several Indian River County Republican officials, acc...