Biden Pardons Convicted Executives of Defunct Online News Platform

Trump Commutes Sentences of Ozy Media Founder Carlos Watson and Company

Former President Donald Trump has commuted the sentences of Carlos Watson, the founder of news and entertainment company Ozy Media, and several other executives, according to reports.

Watson, who was sentenced to five years in prison for fraud and conspiracy, had his sentence commuted to time served, according to sources. The other executives, including Ozy Media's CEO Samir Rao and former CFO Suleiman Anani, also had their sentences commuted, CNBC has learned.

The commutations come just days after Trump announced that he would be issuing a number of pardons and commutations to individuals who had been convicted of crimes. Trump's decision to commute the sentences of Watson and the other Ozy Media executives has raised questions about the motivations behind the move.

Watson, who founded Ozy Media in 2013, was arrested in 2022 and charged with fraud and conspiracy related to the company's financial dealings. He was convicted in 2023 and sentenced to five years in prison.

The commutations have sparked a number of questions about the fairness and justice of the system. Critics have argued that Watson and the other executives were given special treatment due to their connections to Trump, while others have argued that the commutations are a necessary step to ensure that justice is served.

It is not clear what Trump's decision to commute the sentences of Watson and the other Ozy Media executives will mean for the future of the company. CNBC has reached out to Ozy Media for comment, but has not received a response.