Carlos Watson, co-founder of Ozy Media, speaks with press after his sentencing hearing at Brooklyn Federal Court on December 16, 2024 in New York City.
Michael M. Santiago | Getty Images
President Donald Trump commuted the criminal fraud sentence of Ozy Media founder Carlos Watson on Friday, right before Watson was due to begin serving a 116-month prison term in California.
Trump also commuted the sentence of probation imposed on Ozy Media for its related conviction in the case, according to a source familiar with the situation.
Watson was convicted at trial in Brooklyn federal court in last July of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.
He was sentenced in December.
In February, a federal judge ordered Watson and Ozy to pay almost $60 million in forfeiture and more than $36 million in restitution.
FILE PHOTO: OZY FEST 2018 at Rumsey Playfield, Central Park on July 21, 2018 in New York City.
Matthew Eisman | Getty Images
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