He's a part-owner. He may not be the only one in charge, but he's definitely one of them.
I'm a part owner of about 500 different companies. I own mutual funds.
You're really going to compare owning a few shares in a public company to being an owner of a private company? How many of those 500 companies have added your signature to their bank account signature card?
That doesn't mean I'm in charge or can run off with anyone's money.
You're right, since you have no access to their bank account.
Did you read the interview? Again, we just have to take the word of Sonny and the person who did the interview, but for me, anyway, the "standard corporate finance controls are in place" is good enough.
Owners of private companies have great leaway in what they can do.
BFL can answer these simple questions:
Does Sonny have any access to the BFL bank account (i.e. is his signature on the signature card)?
Can Sonny sign corporate checks?