In Georgia, Sir Maejor Page, also known as Tyree Conyers-Page, raised a massive amount of money in the wake of the murder of George Floyd. The Black Lives Matter activist had a checkered history including arrests for police impersonation, but was still able to capitalize on the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery to solicit donations for his group Black Lives Matter of Greater Atlanta (BLMGA).
While Page pledged that “All funds will be used to fight for george floyd… the movement … [and to]… fight for justice,” prosecutors alleged that he used the $450,000 in contributions for clothing, guns, prostitutes and a home. Even after his tax exempt status was revoked by the IRS, he continued to raise money as a not-for-profit group.
In messages, Page bragged that he “bought a big ass cribo” and fell into a windfall like winning the lottery. He was sentenced this week to 42 months in federal prison.
U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio Rebecca C. Lutzko declared that she would continue to “hold accountable those who try to profit by scamming unsuspecting people out of their money like Page did here.”
Across the country, Michele Fiore, a justice of the peace and former member of the Las Vegas City Council, was also convicted of wire fraud. Known as “Lady Trump,” Fiore was found guilty of six counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
She was also accused of running a scheme to defraud donors to a charity. Her charity was supposed to memorialize Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Officer Alyn Bec, who lost his life in the line of duty.
Both will be appealing their convictions, but Fiore is still awaiting sentencing.
The prosecutors alleged that she instead used the $70,000 on herself, including for travel and her daughter’s wedding.
Jonathan Turley is the Shapiro Professor of Public Interest Law at George Washington University and the author of “The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage.”