Overview

• Carlos Watson's 116-month prison sentence and $96 million in financial penalties were commuted by President Donald Trump on March 28, 2025.
• Watson, convicted of securities fraud, wire fraud, and identity theft in 2024, was en route to surrender to authorities when he learned of the commutation.
• The commutation also removed the probation sentence imposed on Ozy Media, Watson's now-defunct digital media company.
• Advocates for criminal justice reform, including Glenn Martin and Alice Marie Johnson, supported Watson's clemency request.
• The case has reignited debates on the use of executive clemency and claims of racial bias in high-profile prosecutions.