President Trump Commutes Sentence of Ozy Media Founder Carlos Watson

SOURCE www.cnbc.com
President Donald Trump commuted the criminal fraud sentence of Ozy Media founder Carlos Watson, who was about to serve a 116-month prison term. Watson was convicted of securities fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft. Ozy Media was ordered to pay almost $60 million in forfeiture and over $36 million in restitution. The commutation was done just as Watson was due to begin his sentence.

Key Points

  • Carlos Watson was convicted of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft.
  • Ozy Media was involved in defrauding investors by misrepresenting financial performance and business relationships.
  • The company shut down after a scandal involving impersonation of a YouTube executive.

Pros

  • President Trump's decision to commute the sentence may have been influenced by various factors.
  • Carlos Watson and Ozy Media were ordered to pay significant amounts in forfeiture and restitution.

Cons

  • The commutation raises questions about potential motivations behind the decision.