The founder of a Black Lives Matter group in Atlanta has been arrested on fraud and money laundering charges.
Sir Maejor Page, 32, was accused of spending $200,000 in donations he received through Facebook on behalf of Black Lives Matter according to Atlanta news reports.
According to an FBI news release, Page, also known as Tyree Conyers-Page created GoFundMe and social media pages under the name of Black Lives Matter of Greater Atlanta (BLMGA), claiming it was a non-profit.
His page was never recognised or affiliated with the official Atlanta Black Lives Matter organisation.
A bank account was set up for BLMGA in 2018 with Page as the sole signatory.
From April 2018 and May 2020 the account never exceeded $5,000 until June 2020 with the spread of the Black Lives Matter movement and national protests decrying the police killing of George Floyd in May.
In June the BLMGA page received $36,493.80 in donations.
In July it received $370,933.69 and $59,914.69 in August.
The money was transferred from the social media account to BLMGA’s bank account.
At the time of accepting donations Page privately responded to inquiring social media users that the donations would be used to fight for Floyd and none of the funds have been used for personal items.
However, Page used a debit card tied to the bank account to purchase tailored suits, furniture, a home security system, and dining and entertainment purchases from June to August.
On August 21, Page used $112,000 from the account to purchase a home and adjacent vacant lot in Toledo, the FBI said. He allegedly tried to conceal the purchase in a non-disclosure agreement stating the transaction was entered ‘by and between Hi Frequency Ohio via Sir Maejor Page’ and the seller’s agent, the FBI stated. In September Page transferred money from the BLMGA account to his personal bank account to purchase a pistol and two other guns.
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,’ the FBI said in a release.
Several audio statements are made by Page in the videos boasting about the money he has, his tailored suits, his cufflinks and $150 dollar ties, the FBI added.
Officials said he spent more than $200,000 in donations on personal items with no identifiable purchase or expenditure for social or racial justice.
An investigation was launched after authorities received a tip off that Page was fraudulently using the account to raise money for himself, officials said.
On Friday Toledo Police and the FBI raided Page’s home and were seen removing furniture from inside.
GoFundMe banned Page from the platform and said all BLMGA associated pages were removed. Page was arrested in Toledo and released on bail after appearing before a judge via video.
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