News

An Atlanta man created a fake BLM charity and spent the money gained on himself: FBI

A man in Ohio has been arrested after creating a bogus Black Lives Matter charity and spending more than $200,000 in donations on various items, including a house, suits and guns, according to federal authorities. Sir Maejor Page, 32, also known as Tyree Conyers-Page, was arrested Friday following a raid at a Toledo, Ohio, home, said the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Page created social media and GoFundMe pages under the name Black Lives Matter of Greater Atlanta (BLMGA), stating that it was non-profit, the FBI said in a news release.

In 2018, a bank account was set up for BLMGA with Page as the sole signatory, the release added. The amount of money in the bank account never surpassed $5,000 until this June when BLMGA social media page started receiving massive donations amid protests in the wake of the death of George Floyd in May, federal authorities said.

In June, the BLMGA social media page received $36,493.80 in donations, followed by $370,933.69 in July and $59,914.69 in August. The money was transferred from the social media page to Page’s BLMGA bank account, said the FBI.

Page indicated on the BLMGA social media page that the donations would be used to seek justice for Floyd but federal officials say that during that period — June, July, August — Page used a debit card tied to the bank account on items for himself. He bought a home in Toledo and an adjacent lot for $112,000, clothing, home security system, furniture, among other purchases.

In September, the FBI said Page transferred money from the BLMGA account to his personal bank account to buy a pistol and two other guns. He then went on his personal social media accounts to “boast” about “the money he has, his tailored suits, his nice cufflinks and ‘$150 dollar ties’,” according to authorities.

In total, Page spent more than $200,000 in donations on personal items, “with no identifiable purchase or expenditure for social or racial justice,” said the FBI.

Page appeared in court on Friday on charges of wire fraud and money laundering in the case. He has been released on a $10,000 bond, but he has been barred from using Facebook or any fundraising platform, New York Post reported. Page cannot also open lines of credit or bank accounts without permission, the report said.

Mildred Europa Taylor

Mildred Europa Taylor is a writer and content creator. She loves writing about health and women's issues in Africa and the African diaspora.

Recent Posts

How startup Sparen is using AI to change the way you buy or sell a home

Paris Dean is the founder of Sparen, a startup that seeks to streamline real estate…

36 seconds ago

Flavor Flav promises to sponsor U.S. water polo team to Paris Olympics after call for help

Flavor Flav is known for his music career but he is also a true sports…

56 mins ago

Months after raising $29M, Shaq-backed college startup founded by Nigerian picks up another $23M

Nigerian entrepreneur Tade Oyerinde leads Campus, an online community college startup. The son of Nigerian…

4 hours ago

Florida woman in labor weds her lover between contractions at hospital

What are you willing to endure in the name of love? A Florida mother decided…

5 hours ago

Wheel of Fortune contestant wins big after trying to get on the show for almost 30 years

Tracy McBride’s dream came true when she finally arrived as a contestant for the Wheel…

6 hours ago

How Chris Brown reportedly grew his net worth to $50 million despite a spate of controversies

Chris Brown is an American R&B singer, songwriter, and dancer. He made his career debut…

7 hours ago

T-Pain to open music school in Wisconsin after ‘Can’t Believe It’ hit

Following the success of his 2008 single "Can't Believe It," in which he memorably rhymed…

8 hours ago

Atlanta reaches $3.8M settlement with family of church deacon fatally tased by officer

The Atlanta City Council has reached a $3.8 million settlement with the family of a…

9 hours ago

50 Cent sues ex Daphne Joy for $1 million after she accused him of rape

Actress and model Daphne Joy has been slapped with a defamation lawsuit by her ex-boyfriend…

9 hours ago

Drake’s security guard critically injured in shooting outside rapper’s Toronto mansion

Authorities in Canada said a man identified as Drake’s security guard was left seriously injured…

9 hours ago

Two students saved their P.E. teacher after he suffered cardiac arrest: ‘Medically, I was gone’

A physical education teacher, Alfred Kattola, owes his life to the quick thinking of two…

23 hours ago

Doctors misdiagnosed an 11-year-old girl 30 times before finding out she was suffering from brain tumor

An 11-year-old girl, Tia Gordon, has endured misdiagnoses of sickness bugs and migraines by medics…

23 hours ago

How Serena Williams has helped 14 companies reach unicorn status

Serena Williams is undoubtedly one of the greatest tennis players to grace the court. In…

1 day ago

LeAnna Roberts earns her master’s degree at just 17 years old, her third degree in two years

At the age of sixteen, LeAnna Roberts made headlines when she graduated from the University…

1 day ago

‘I invested in Tesla in 2006 before Elon took over’: Will.i.am on two investments he made that changed his life

Will.i.am is a musician, producer, technologist, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. Born Williams Adams, the musician turned…

1 day ago