Sir Maejor Page has been charged with one count of wire fraud and two counts of money laundering.
An Atlanta-based Black Lives Matter activist is facing federal charges of money laundering and wire fraud after he allegedly used donations raised for the nonprofit on personal expenses.
Sir Maejor Page, 32, (born Tyree Conyers-Page) was arrested Friday after authorities said he spent more than $200,000 in funds intended for the social justice movement on tailored suits, guns and a home in Ohio, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Page solicited money through a GoFundMe account called Black Lives Matter of Greater Atlanta, the FBI said in a news release.
“In June 2020, BLMGA social media page received approximately $36,493.80 in donations, in July 2020, it received approximately $370,933.69 in donations, and in August 2020, an additional $59,914.69 in donations, all of this money was transferred from the social media donations to the bank account titled and operated in the name of ‘Black Lives Matter of Greater Atlanta, Inc’, owned and operated by Page,” according to the news release.
Read More: Black Lives Matter products on Etsy raise concerns of exploitation
The FBI said Page told donors that their “funds had been used to fight for George Floyd” and that none was spent on personal items. “All movement related,” he said, according to the complaint.
Page reportedly used some of the BLM donations to purchase a security system for $1,310, furniture totaling more than $12,000, over $4,000 in Walmart items and Home Depot charges of $2,125.67.
According to the press release, “Numerous videos and livestream videos were posted to Page’s personal social media pages showing himself in what appeared to be newly purchased clothing, hotel rooms, and office space in Atlanta. Several audio statements are made by Page in the videos boasting about the money he has, his tailored suits, his nice cufflinks and ‘$150 ties’ and boasting about ‘my room way up at the top….at the top top…they put the bottom feeders on these floors…”
The Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation noted in a statement that that “over the last 7 years” several individuals “have continually misrepresented our organization and solicited donations all in the name of Black Lives Matter,” the organization said.
Read More: Texas teacher fired for refusing to stop wearing Black Lives Matter mask
“The recent and past behavior of Tyree Conyers-Page, also known as Sir Maejor Page, has continued to compromise the integrity of the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, supporters and allies. Our stance remains that Mr. Page is not affiliated with Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation,” the statement continues. “We reject and will continue to call out the extreme misleading behaviors of people who utilize our name for their own personal wealth and gain; and, who are clearly not in service of the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation or the movement we represent.”
The company has removed Page’s fundraising accounts as well as any associated with the Black Lives Matter of Greater Atlanta organization. Donors who supported Page’s GoFundMe platform are receiving refunds upon request.
“GoFundMe has taken action to ensure you can no longer start a GoFundMe for BLMGA. PayPal has also confirmed BLMGA has been removed from its database,” the statement read. “Campaigns with misuse are very rare, and we take all complaints very seriously. Our team is working with law enforcement and assisting them in the investigation.”
Page was arrested Friday in Toledo and charged with one count of wire fraud and two counts of money laundering.
Have you subscribed to theGrio’s podcast “Dear Culture”? Download our newest episodes now!
The post Atlanta activist arrested for using $200K in BLM donations to fund lifestyle appeared first on TheGrio.
from TheGrio https://ift.tt/3mUJwch
via Gabe's Musing's