Trump Commutes The Sentence Of Ozy Media Co-Founder Carlos Watson

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 16: Carlos Watson (C) co-founder of Ozy Media, arrives for his sentencing hearing at Brooklyn Federal Court on December 16, 2024 in New York City. In July, after an eight-week trial, Watson was found guilty of trying to defraud investors and lenders to promote the media start-up venture. Samir Rao, the other co-founder of Ozy, and Suzee Han, a former Ozy chief of staff, pleaded guilty last year to fraud charges and both cooperated in the case and testified against Watson. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — A White House official says President Donald Trump has commuted the sentence of Ozy Media co-founder Carlos Watson. Watson was convicted last year in a financial conspiracy case involving the defunct company. The commutation came just as Watson was due to report Friday to prison for a nearly 10-year term. The commutation was confirmed by a senior White House official who was not authorized to speak publicly about the decision and spoke on condition of anonymity. The U.S. attorney in Brooklyn at the time of the conviction described Watson as a “con man who told lie upon lie.” Trump has been aggressively using his presidential powers to commute sentences and pardon people who he believes were treated unfairly by the justice system.