by Mary Spiller

March 29, 2025

Trump Pardons Ozy Media Co-Founder Carlos Watson

Watson's sentence was commuted just hours before he was ordered to surrender for his 10 year prison sentence.

According to a White House official, on March 28, President Donald Trump commuted the sentence of Ozy Media co-founder Carlos Watson. The act was finalized just hours before Watson was set to head to prison for an almost 10-year sentence for his role in a financial conspiracy and fraud case.

Watson was convicted and sentenced to prison last year on account of his startup company, and he was ordered to surrender to prison on March 28 officially. The commutation narrowly stopped it.

Watson’s company, Ozy Media, was founded in 2013 and was supposed to offer media on politics and culture with a focus on minority voices. However, it shut down in the fall of 2021 after The New York Times asked questions about the media organization’s claims of having millions of viewers and readers. The NYT also pointed out that there were hints of securities fraud behind the scenes at Ozy Media.

Soon after, in February 2023, Watson was arrested when two of Ozy Media’s top executives pleaded guilty to fraud charges.

Watson reportedly deceived the company’s investors by intentionally inflating revenue numbers for Ozy. Prosecutors stated that Watson pretended to have finalized large deals and that a company co-founder even posed as a YouTube executive on a phone call with potential investors.

At Watson’s sentencing, then-Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Breon Peace said, “Watson was a con man who told lie upon lie upon lie to deceive investors into buying stock in his company.”

“Ozy Media collapsed under the weight of Watson’s dishonest schemes,” Peace said.

U.S. District Judge Eric Komitee added during sentencing, “The quantum of dishonesty in this case is exceptional.”

Watson has maintained that his treatment is unfair and implied that he’s being targeted because he’s Black and that his charges are a case of “selective prosecution.”

“I made mistakes. I’m very, very sorry that people are hurt, myself included, but I don’t think it’s fair,” Watson stated.

Watson’s commuted sentence is one in a series of cases that Trump has used his presidential jurisdiction to alter. The White House revealed several other pardons alongside Watson’s, including the three entrepreneurs who founded and run the cryptocurrency exchange BITMEX. The company was ordered to pay $100 million earlier this year after Arthur Hayes, Benjamin Delo, and Samuel Reed “willfully flouted U.S. anti-money laundering laws to boost revenue.”

Hayes, Delo, and Reed pled guilty to violating the Bank Secrecy Act and failing to “maintain anti-money laundering and know-your-customer programs.” Prosecutors stated that the co-founders operated BITMEX exclusively as a “money laundering platform.”

Trump also pardoned them alongside Watson this week.

Kim Scott, Cleveland, City Planner, Felony Theft, Falsifying Documents

by Mary Spiller

March 29, 2025

New Orleans Chef Demietriek Scott Indicted In COVID-19 Relief Fraud Scheme

Chef Scott was charged with wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, theft of government funds, and conspiracy to commit theft of government funds.

Demietriek Scott, a New Orleans chef who was once reported missing by his family, has been indicted on a federal case of wire fraud and theft charges about an allegedly fake childcare scheme alongside his co-conspirator, Romney Manuel.

Scott, who’s known professionally as “Chef Scott,” was indicted on several counts of wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, theft of government funds, and conspiracy to commit theft of government funds.

WDSU reports that the fake childcare plot allegedly began in 2020 when a co-conspirator, Romney Manuel, began coaching Scott on how to receive COVID-19 relief aid through the Louisiana Department of Education,

Manuel, a program consultant from the LDE, engaged in sending emails back and forth with Scott. The emails contained content on how he could apply for the relief funds by setting up a fake childcare center called Nanny’s Learning and using it for the request. Manuel showed Scott how to set up an email address for the business and set up deposits with his bank for the relief funds.

According to the indictment, Scott and Manuel received over $74,000 in COVID-19 relief funds, allegedly as fake childcare providers.

The pair’s scheme was unearthed after one of Manuel’s co-workers noticed an address discrepancy in March 2021, realizing that a different childcare center was using the same address as Nanny’s Learning.

Manuel and Scott were arrested in June 2021 but posted bond and were released.

As previously reported by BLACK ENTERPRISE, Scott went missing for a while in June 2023, and his family falsely reported that his body had been found on the side of a bridge along France Road.

After being missing for two weeks, Scott returned home. He reported that he was shocked that his family reported him as missing, as he was just taking time for himself.

Although he didn’t notify anyone that he would be going off the grid, he said he appreciated everyone’s concern for him.

Scott said at the time, “I’ve been around, I’ve been around. I essentially just needed some time for myself…Life caves in on you sometimes, and that’s just what happened. I appreciate [the concern]. I didn’t know that was a thing.”

Chef Scott was born in the Seventh Ward and owns a food truck called Chef Scott’s Creole BBQ.

RECENT CONTENT: Former Rep. Cori Bush’s Husband Charged With Wire Fraud

by Daniel Johnson

March 29, 2025

Sgt. Joe Harris, Member Of U.S. Army’s First All-Black Parachute Infantry Battalion, Dies At 108

He was one of the last surviving members of the all-Black 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion, nicknamed the Triple Nickels.

Sgt. Joe Harris, who was believed to be the oldest surviving World War II paratrooper as well as a member of the U.S. Army’s first all-Black parachute infantry battalion, died on March 15 in a Los Angeles hospital, surrounded by his family. Harris was 108.

As his grandson, Ashton Pittman, told The Associated Press, his grandfather was a very loving man and insisted that his family carry that love on.

“He was a very loving, loving, loving man,” Pittman told the news agency. “That was one of the things that he was very strict upon was loving one another.”

Harris, one of the last surviving members of the all-Black 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion, nicknamed the Triple Nickels, was responsible for protecting the United States from Japanese balloon bombs during World War II.

According to Robert L. Bartlett, a retired Eastern Washington University professor specializing in the battalion’s history, the Japanese launched those balloon bombs into the jet stream, aiming for them to reach the U.S. mainland, detonate, and ignite fires.

During the period Harris and his squadmates served in the military, they often faced racism, expressed through their being barred from the base commissary or officer’s clubs unless they were set aside for Black servicemen.

While Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the American president during most of World War II, faced pressure to put segregated units in combat, Harris’ unit was sent to the West Coast to fight fires until they were called into combat.

As historian Matthew Delmont, the author of the book Half American, told NPR in 2022, there was no justifiable reason for the armed services to remain segregated during World War II; it was only done to maintain an unjust system of racial prejudice.

“There was no strategic or tactical reason to do it,” Delmont told the outlet. “The only reason the military maintained this racial segregation during the war was to appease white racial prejudice. Black veterans…fought for the country and many of them identified as being deeply, deeply patriotic. But for them, that meant that you also had to demand that America be a country worth fighting and dying for.”

As Bartlett indicated to the AP, the experience of the Triple Nickels, much like the experiences of Black people in the military during that period more broadly, illustrated the paradox of being a Black American. “This unit had to fight to be recognized as human beings while training to fight an enemy overseas, fight in their own country for respect even within the military,” Bartlett told the AP.

Harris is survived by his son, Pirate Joe Harris Sr., two daughters, Michaun Harris and Latanya Pittman, and five grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Louise Harris, in 1981, as well as a sixth grandchild.

Pittman also remarked to the AP that his grandfather was brave enough to serve his country “during a time when the country didn’t love him, honestly, didn’t care about him.”

Pittman continued, “His life is to be celebrated. Obviously, people are going to mourn because he’s not here anymore. But ultimately what I know from conversations that I’ve had with my grandfather is that he wants to be celebrated. He deserves to be celebrated.”

by Mary Spiller

March 29, 2025

Legendary Singer Johnny Mathis Announces Touring Retirement

Mathis' team explained that the legendary singer would retire due to "accelerated age and memory issues."

Legendary singer Johnny Mathis revealed that he is retiring from performing. The 89-year-old pop singer stated in a Facebook post on March 26 that he will no longer perform live after actively touring for nearly seven decades due to accelerating “age and memory issues.”

The Facebook statement began, “As many of you may already be aware, Johnny Mathis is approaching his 90th birthday this year.”

It continued, “So, it’s with sincere regret that due to Mr. Mathis’ age and memory issues, which have accelerated, we are announcing his retirement from touring & live concerts.”

Before this announcement, the “When a Child is Born” singer had planned to hit the road for another tour this year for his “2025 Voice of Romance Tour” through early November, but Mathis’ announcement effectively canceled the last four scheduled tour dates.

The five-time Grammy nominee’s last show is set for May 18 at the Bergen Performing Arts Center in Englewood, New Jersey. Since the announcement, the venue, which holds around 1,500 fans, has already sold out.

Mathis’ newly dubbed farewell show has third-party tickets selling for $474 on the low end.

“At this time, the 2025 Voice Of Romance Tour dates will continue, with the final concert currently scheduled on May 18th, 2025, in Englewood, NJ, at the Bergen PAC. Additional updates will be posted as necessary. Limited tickets for the final concerts are available at johnnymathis.com,” The Facebook post confirmed.

Mathis’ announcement concluded, “Johnny Mathis and his entire staff send their heartfelt gratitude to all Mathis fans worldwide for your continued love and support of his music! It’s truly been ‘Wonderful, Wonderful.’”

However, according to the New York Post, there was still some good news for fans of Mathis’ music, as someone hinted beneath the post that new music could still “potentially” be in the works despite his standard tour career ending.

Johnny Mathis was born Sept. 30, 1935, in Gilmer, Texas, and he spent his teenage years dedicated to sports and music.

He decided to fully pursue a career as a singer when he had to choose between recording in New York City after being invited by an A&R executive at Columbia during the same month he was invited to participate as a high jumper in the US Olympic team trials.

Mathis chose to pour himself into music, recording his 1956 album, “Johnny Mathis: A New Sound In Popular Song,” before going on in 1957 to release his popular singles “Wonderful, Wonderful” and “It’s Not For Me To Say.”

Mathis is currently the longest-running Columbia Records artist and has released famous songs such as “Misty,” “It’s Beginning to Look Like Christmas,” “We Need a Little Christmas,” and “Winter Wonderland.”

Deion Sanders Lands $54M Extension At Colorado, Making Him One Of Country’s Highest Paid Coaches

The contract extension allows Sanders to keep building on his vision for the program.

The University of Colorado has secured Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders with a five-year, $54 million contract after he transformed the football program from a struggling team into a playoff contender. Signed on March 28, the deal will pay Sanders $10 million annually, making him one of the top 10 highest-paid coaches in the nation.

According to The Athletic, Sanders had two years remaining on his initial contract, and his brief flirtation with taking the previously open Dallas Cowboys job likely gave him some leverage in the discussions he and University of Colorado Athletic Director Rick George had been having since at least the tail end of 2024.

As George told the outlet, the extension allows Sanders to keep building on his vision for the program.

“Coach Prime has revolutionized college football and in doing so, has restored CU football to our rightful place as a national power,” George told The Athletic.

He continued, “This extension not only recognizes Coach’s incredible accomplishments transforming our program on and off the field, it keeps him in Boulder to compete for conference and national championships in the years to come.”

Although Sanders has courted controversy at times, he has also raised vast sums of money for the university. In 2023, he helped the program generate $31 million in ticket sales, up from $13 million the previous season ahead of his arrival on campus.

According to CBS Sports, Sanders has also received support from his peers for his idea to transform spring football games into an environment reminiscent of an NFL preseason game, which is a development that is strikingly different from the initial reactions from some of those peers regarding his approach to rebuilding his roster largely through the use of the transfer portal.

While some coaches have bemoaned the transfer portal and the emergence of NIL and universities’ respective NIL collectives, referring to recruiting as a bidding war, Sanders, as evidenced by his comments in November to The Athletic and his use of it to build the bulk of his roster, sees it as another evolution of college football.

“I never take a step back,” Sanders told the outlet in mid-November. “I try to take a step up. I’m always with my head out the window: I’m trying to see around the corner, not trying to see straight ahead. It’s normalcy to see what’s in front of them. I’m trying to see around the corner.”

Although it remains to be seen if the program will replicate or surpass the level it reached while Sanders’ two sons, Sheduer and Shilo, starred on opposite sides of the ball alongside Sanders’ “other son,” two-way star Travis Hunter, the program’s future at quarterback looks bright as Kaidon Salter transferred in from Liberty and Colorado signed highly regarded five-star quarterback prospect Julian “Juju” Lewis, who decommitted from USC to join the Buffaloes.

According to the Boulder Daily Camera, Sanders is looking forward to not only continuing to build the program, but the young men who come into it, per his comments in a press release announcing the extension.

“I’m excited for the opportunity to continue building something special here at Colorado,” Sanders said in the press release. “We’ve just scratched the surface of what this program can be. It’s not just about football; it’s about developing young men who are ready to take on the world.”

He continued, concluding his comments with a witty remark, “I’m committed to bringing greatness to this university, on and off the field. We’ve got work to do, and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else but here, making history with these incredible players and this passionate fan base. Lastly, anybody got at least a five-bedroom home with acreage for sale?”

by Mary Spiller

March 29, 2025

Sean Kingston And Mother Found Guilty In Fraud Case

Kingston has been released to his home under electric monitoring while his mother was remanded to federal prison until the sentencing hearing.

“Beautiful Girls” rapper Sean Kingston and his mother, Janice Turner, have been found guilty on all charges in their ongoing federal wire fraud trial in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on March 28.

Kingston and Turner were accused of defrauding a handful of different businesses, including a jewelry business, a luxury bed company, a used luxury and exotic car dealership, and a luxury microLED TV company.

Kingston, whose real name is Kisean Anderson, and Turner were found guilty after three and a half hours of deliberations by the jury.

Following the verdict, Turner was remanded to federal custody. According to the court records, 34-year-old Kingston is confined under house arrest with electronic monitoring as long as he posts a bond with a home valued at $500,000 and at least $200,000 in cash.

Turner and Kingston are scheduled to appear in a sentencing hearing on July 11.

Kingston was arrested in May of 2024 following a SWAT team raid on his Southwest Ranches California home, and both he and his 61-year-old mother were indicted in July of the same year.

According to the arrest records, Kingston was accused of leveraging his social media influence to convince businesses to deliver luxury goods before the completion of any payments. Turner entered the scheme by confirming delivery dates and other details of the fraudulent transactions, knowing there was no intent to truly pay for the services.

As NBC News reported, The pair would then make fraudulent wire transfers as payments and keep the items.

Turner and Kingston continued running the fraud scheme for several years.

Both Turner and Kingston originally pleaded not guilty to the related counts.

While Kingston didn’t testify on his own behalf, Turner’s defense attorney, Humberto Dominguez, said during the trial’s closing arguments that Turner was trying to protect her son. She claimed that the mother was suspicious about the businesses they allegedly scammed.

The judge presiding over the case decided that Turner’s testimony was hardly more than obstruction — which caused him to remand her into federal custody until sentencing and give Kingston bond.

The judge stated, “Her testimony makes it impossible to believe she wouldn’t do anything for her son.”

small businesses, tips, revenue, Trump, economy

by Jeffrey McKinney

March 29, 2025

8 Tips To Help Small Businesses Boost Revenue As Concern About Economy Surges

Revenue concerns have grown amid rising inflation worries and uncertainty over President Trump’s new economic agenda.

Some 35% of small business owners, including Black entrepreneurs, have concerns about revenue. That is significant as it represents the highest share in four years.

The finding comes from the Q1 MetLife and U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Index. When tracking for that measure started, it was at 34%, the highest level of concern since the third quarter of 2021. It rose 10 percentage points this quarter, up from 25% in last year’s fourth quarter.

Worry for inflation climbed to a new high, with 58% reporting it as a top concern this quarter. Some (66%) of those quizzed reported being snug with their cash flow, down from 72% last quarter.

Tom Sullivan, vice president of small business policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, commented in a news release, “The data is clear, confidence is being shaken as small businesses increasingly worry about their revenue while at the same time confronting the possibility that tariffs will raise costs for them and their employees.”

The Q1 survey was conducted online between late January and mid-February this year, with a sample size of 750 U.S. small business owners and operators. It included at least 50 Black-owned small businesses and 100 Black respondents. Further, 141 POC-owned small businesses were surveyed.

The 2025 Report on Employer Firms: Findings from the 2024 Small Business Credit Survey, released March 27 by the 12 Federal Reserve Banks, shows that small businesses reporting a revenue drop surpassed those declaring an uptick.

Many small businesses have expressed concerns recently, including rising fears about inflation and how to navigate President Trump’s new economic agenda.

Here are some tips small businesses might consider on helping to boost revenues in uneven economic times:

Enlarge your product offerings: Consider diversifying to attract a larger audience. That could come by checking out customer segments or new markets you’re not serving now.

Center on customer retention: Selling to existing customers is often less costly and simpler because you already serve them, they trust you, and they are loyal. Examine a strategy where you regularly seek feedback on what they want and digitally follow up to help ensure they turn to you again when they need what you offer.

Pinpoint niche markets: Focus on identifying and targeting underserved markets that larger providers might neglect. For example, offering tailored products or services that rivals are not providing might help you thrive by meeting that demand.

Boost revenue by cutting costs: You can take several actions to help do this. For instance, canceling memberships or services that are not necessary for your business. Explore ways to reduce utility costs and seek discounts or better pricing from suppliers.

Offer a personalized touch: People buying goods and services like to feel they are getting your attention and are valued. Tap into your customer database to offer personalized product recommendations, follow-up messages, or emails on discounts or special offers.

Use upselling techniques: This approach can potentially get customers to spend more. It could involve encouraging customers to buy a higher-end version of a product than what they initially intended to buy. For instance, a patron going to a nail salon for a manicure can be encouraged in a non-pushy way to buy a top-notch nail care kit or even a pedicure.

Capitalize on modern marketing methods: Broaden your exposure online by being proactive on digital media. You can research how well-known sites like TikTok can help with that. Observers say the most successful companies know their online audience and use everything from engaging content, leveraging hashtags, working with influencers, and posting regularly.

Cross-sell with another brand or retailer: Partner or work with another business that provides a setting or supplies products and services that complement what you’re offering.

by Kandiss Edwards

March 29, 2025

Shirley C. Franklin, Atlanta’s First Black Woman Mayor, Has A Street And Park Named In Her Honor

Former Mayor Shirley C. Franklin is being honored by the city of Atlanta.

Shirley C. Franklin, Atlanta’s first Black woman mayor, was celebrated with a street and park named in her honor.

The Atlanta City Council shared the event on its YouTube page. Formerly part of Central Avenue, the street is now Shirley Clarke Franklin Boulevard S.W. Additionally, Westside Reservoir Park has been renamed Shirley Clarke Franklin Park.

A distinguished panel of guests gathered to celebrate the city’s 58th mayor and history-maker. Notable Atlanta figures, including Mayor Andre Dickens, former Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young, and news anchor Fred Blankenship, gave remarks. Robert Franklin Jr., president of Morehouse College, lauded the former mayor for her service and offered a short prayer for her and those who will travel on her street.

“Her service has been exemplary. Her resolution has been commanding, and her love for all Atlantans has been inspiring,” Franklin Jr. said. “May all who tread here learn of her great contributions and become better citizens. May all who travel here feel her contagious spirit of humility, service, and community-building. May the wings of the phoenix now spread wide over this boulevard and transform this familiar path into sacred ground.”

The former Westside Reservoir Park acquisition was one of Franklin’s crowning achievements during her term. The purchase was part of Franklin’s “Clean Water Atlanta initiative.” Atlanta’s emergency drinking water supply is now housed at the park that now bears her name. She is lauded for launching the Atlanta BeltLine, which is home to many small businesses.

Franklin spoke at the ceremony with humility. She explained that her vision motivated her and emphasized that seeking validation and accolades yields little reward.

“I learned a long time ago, you don’t do the work for the accolades or the recognition. You do the work because you love the work, because you love the people and because you’re taken by a vision,” Franklin said.

Franklin broke the glass ceiling for Black women in Atlanta with her mayoral election and set the standard for giving back to one of the South’s major cities. At 79 years old, she is now receiving her flowers. Kudos to the city of Atlanta for recognizing its hometown icon.

by Sharelle B. McNair

March 29, 2025

How Empathetic Leadership Equals More Successful Business Habits

Author Tony Robbins defines empathetic leadership as “a style of leadership that focuses on identifying with others and understanding their point of view.”

As the workforce is under construction, with significant changes and policy changes, studies and experts have identified empathic leadership as key to effective business habits in the workplace.

Empathy expert Maria Ross labels empathic leadership as a “key driver of business success.” She highlights leaders with this “soft skill” as being curious. “You pause, listen, and ask questions to really understand other people’s perspectives without judgment,” she told Inc. “When you lead with empathy, the improvements are measurable, including employee engagement, customer satisfaction, and even retention rates.”

Research from Ross and outside studies have proven this to be true. Organizations identified with high empathy scores have lower turnover and higher customer loyalty rates, in addition to increased profits. A study from MetLife showcased “notable drops” in employee engagement and a sharp decline in holistic health, productivity, and engagement, as employees are under the stress of dealing with increased medical costs and an uncertain economic status, according to Newsweek.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, employee mental health has been challenged in the workplace in addition to heightened socio-economic issues, political conflicts, and more flowing into conference rooms and cubicle space.

Feeling empathy in a work environment from leadership helps employees feel more connected and valued, resulting in customers sensing the change. “There’s no question that empathy is an essential leadership skill, particularly as the pressure mounts to preserve workforce stability and engagement, given everything that is going on in the external environment on top of organizational change that employees across industries and across the world are facing,” chief people officer at S&P Global, Girish Ganesan, said.

Author and motivational speaker Tony Robbins defines empathetic leadership as “a style of leadership that focuses on identifying with others and understanding their point of view.” In Ross’ books, The Empathy Edge and The Empathy Dilemma, she determines the five essential pillars of empathetic leadership as self-awareness, self-care, clarity, decisiveness, and joy. Self-awareness helps leaders understand an employee’s emotional triggers, while self-care shows leading by example – with taking breaks that employees may be fearful of taking.

Clarity means a leader is communicating with purpose and with that purpose, decisiveness will result in decisions being made with empathy and confidence. Lastly, joy means bringing positive energy, celebrating small wins, and showing gratitude.

However, empathy from high-level managers isn’t all it takes for workplace growth. More trustworthy and empathetic behavior from leadership equates to an increase in consistent performance from employees – or better.

LeBron James, Kids Picture book, 'I Am More Than', I promise school

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

March 29, 2025

LeBron James’ ‘Mind The Game’ Podcast Partners With Amazon

The talk show will be distributed across Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Music, Fire TV Channels, and Echo devices

Future NBA Hall of Famer LeBron James has just struck a deal with Amazon to distribute his digital series throughout the company’s multiple properties.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, LeBron’s “Mind the Game“ will be available through Amazon’s Wondery, which will distribute the digital series across Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Music, Fire TV Channels, and Echo devices. The program will also be available on YouTube and other platforms where podcasts are available. The Lakers forward is a host on the show, and for the upcoming second season, which will premier in April, he will be joined by former NBA player Steve Nash. He had his current head coach, JJ Reddick, as his co-host during the first season.

“I love learning and talking about the game of basketball. We enjoyed the conversations so much in the first season of ‘Mind The Game.’ I lost JJ as my co-host but gained a coach,” James said. “Now I get to do it with another one of the greatest basketball minds in Steve Nash, and we’re going to have a lot of fun digging into the nuances and details that make this sport so great.”

Wondery will also handle the ad sales for the podcast’s audio and video episodes and back-catalog content. LeBron’s Uninterrupted company will continue to produce the show.

“When I decided to step into a media role, I knew it had to be something different—something fresh, something that brings real basketball fans closer to the sport. Mind The Game is my way of being a teacher of basketball, of breaking down the game in a way that makes fans see just how incredible this era of hoops really is. I can’t wait to get inside the mind of LeBron James and also share my experiences within this beautiful game,” Nash said.