A locked gate stands at the entrance to the property of the purposed Blackwater USA training facility in the rural community of Potrero, California, just east of San Diego, on December 12, 2007. The hopes of Blackwater to build a west coast training camp was put in jeopardy after five pro-Blackwater members of the Potrero planning group were voted off the panel in a recall. (UPI Photo/Earl Cryer)

Local officials did not realize Blackwater was the purchaser of the warehouse in Otay Mesa until they got an inside tip, the Los Angeles Times reported. The company dropped plans in March for a larger facility in the desert 45 miles from San Diego, which was opposed by a coalition of property owners and anti-war and environmental activists.

The permits were obtained by Raven Development Group and Southwest Law Enforcement.

"They were using these phony names to evade scrutiny by activist groups like ours that are watching their every move," said Raymond Lutz, coordinator of Citizens Oversight Projects.

Anne Tyrell, a Blackwater spokeswoman, said the company had no intent ot deceive. She said Raven has been Blackwater's real estate arm for some time.