President Donald Trump's latest act of clemency involves Ozy Media co-founder Carlos Watson, who faced nearly a decade behind bars for financial conspiracy charges.
According to Daily Mail, Trump commuted Watson's sentence just hours before the media executive was scheduled to report to prison, following his conviction last year for deceiving investors and lenders through fraudulent business practices.
Watson, who held degrees from Harvard University and Stanford Law School, founded Ozy Media in 2012 with ambitious goals of providing fresh perspectives on politics and culture while amplifying minority voices. His dramatic fall from grace culminated in a conviction that highlighted the precarious nature of media startups and raised questions about transparency in digital media ventures.
Federal prosecutors demonstrated that Watson engaged in systematic deception of investors and lenders by inflating revenue figures and misrepresenting business deals. The prosecution revealed that Watson's co-founder even impersonated a YouTube executive during an investor call to create false impressions about potential partnerships.
These fraudulent activities eventually led to Ozy Media's collapse in 2021, shortly after a New York Times investigation exposed questionable business practices.
Then-Brooklyn US Attorney Breon Peace offered a scathing assessment of Watson's conduct during the trial:
Watson was a con man who told lie upon lie upon lie to deceive investors into buying stock in his company. Ozy Media collapsed under the weight of Watson's dishonest schemes.
Watson maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings, characterizing the case as "a modern lynching" and suggesting he was targeted through selective prosecution. His defense team highlighted his background as the son of Jamaican immigrants who achieved success through prestigious educational institutions and professional accomplishments.
Trump's decision to commute Watson's sentence aligns with his pattern of using presidential powers to assist individuals he believes have been unfairly treated by the justice system. The commutation was confirmed by a senior White House official speaking on condition of anonymity, as they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.
The timing of Watson's commutation coincided with several other acts of clemency, including pardons for Trevor Milton, founder of electric vehicle company Nikola, and three cryptocurrency entrepreneurs from BITMEX. These actions reflect Trump's willingness to intervene in cases involving business figures facing criminal penalties.
Before its collapse, Ozy Media had established itself as a promising digital media venture, producing various content formats including TV shows, newsletters, podcasts, and cultural events. The company's programming included "Black Women OWN the Conversation," which earned an Emmy Award and aired on Oprah Winfrey's network.
Despite outward signs of success and relationships with major advertisers, internal financial struggles plagued the company after 2017. Former finance vice president Janeen Poutre testified about chronic issues meeting payroll obligations and maintaining basic operations, revealing a stark contrast between the company's public image and its private challenges.
Carlos Watson, once celebrated for founding Ozy Media, faced imprisonment after being convicted of financial fraud charges related to deceiving investors and misrepresenting his company's success. His conviction followed a detailed investigation that exposed systematic deception in business practices and financial reporting.
President Trump's decision to commute Watson's sentence came at the eleventh hour, preventing the media executive from beginning his prison term. The commutation adds to Trump's record of granting clemency to individuals he believes have received unfair treatment within the justice system, particularly in cases involving business and financial crimes.
