Company Directory - Ozy Media
Company Details - Ozy Media
Ozy Media
WebsiteNew York, USA
Ozy Media is a digital news and entertainment company that produces content spanning current events, business, culture, and more. Founded by Carlos Watson, the company has attracted attention for its controversial business practices and a recent conviction for fraud.
CCI Score
CCI Score: Ozy Media
-70.50
0.04%
Latest Event
Trump Commutes Sentence of Carlos Watson
President Donald Trump commuted the criminal sentence of Ozy Media founder Carlos Watson, just hours before he was due to begin serving a 116‑month prison term. Additionally, the probation sentence for Ozy Media was commuted, effectively shielding both Watson and the company from the legal consequences of their fraud convictions.
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ARCHITECT
Ozy Media is currently rated as an Architect.
Latest Events
- MAR282025
President Donald Trump commuted the criminal sentence of Ozy Media founder Carlos Watson, just hours before he was due to begin serving a 116‑month prison term. Additionally, the probation sentence for Ozy Media was commuted, effectively shielding both Watson and the company from the legal consequences of their fraud convictions.
- MAR282025
President Trump commuted the criminal sentence of Ozy Media founder Carlos Watson and also nullified a year-long probation imposed on Ozy Media following its fraud conviction. This executive clemency effectively reduced legal consequences for a company already marred by unethical practices and misrepresentations.
-80
Public and Political Behavior
March 28
The commutation by an authoritarian figure, President Trump, underscores troubling political favoritism that shields companies like Ozy Media from full accountability for their fraudulent practices. By mitigating severe penalties against a company with a record of deceiving investors, this decision reinforces an environment where corporate malfeasance is politically enabled, undermining democratic legal processes.
Trump commutes sentence of Ozy Media founder Carlos Watson - NBC News
- MAR282025
On March 28, 2025, President Donald Trump commuted the sentence of Ozy Media co-founder Carlos Watson in a financial conspiracy case. Watson publicly thanked Trump for what he termed a correction of 'a grave injustice' and criticized the judge, reflecting a politically charged endorsement of Trump's intervention.
-80
Executive Political Engagement
March 28
Carlos Watson, as co-founder of Ozy Media, expressed deep gratitude toward President Trump for commuting his sentence, characterizing the judicial decision as unjust and praising Trump's corrective action. This public statement aligns with authoritarian political behavior by endorsing an executive intervention that undermines normal judicial processes, thus reflecting a concerning alignment with authoritarian practices.
Trump commutes the sentence of Ozy Media co-founder Carlos Watson in financial conspiracy case
- DEC132024
Carlos Watson, the founder of Ozy Media, was sentenced to nearly 10 years in prison after being convicted on charges of wire fraud conspiracy, where he and other executives were found guilty of deceiving investors by inflating revenue and misrepresenting the company's financial health.
-70
Business Practices and Ethical Responsibility
March 28
The conviction of Ozy Media's founder for orchestrating fraudulent financial practices reflects deeply unethical business behavior. Misleading investors and manipulating financial representations undermine corporate accountability and transparency, which are fundamental to protecting democratic processes against corporate malfeasance.
Carlos Watson sentenced to nearly 10 years in prison in Ozy Media case
- JUN132024
Ozy Media is currently under a federal criminal trial for allegations of fraud including misrepresented revenue figures, deceptive communications, and impersonation tactics by its co-founder. The trial highlights questionable business practices such as inflating financial performance, delaying payments, and fabricating evidence to attract investors.
-80
Business Practices and Ethical Responsibility
March 28
The trial and accompanying evidence from the AP article reveal that Ozy Media engaged in deceptive and unethical business practices. By misrepresenting financial data and using fraudulent tactics to secure investor trust, the company has demonstrated behavior that undermines ethical business responsibility, warranting a strongly negative score.
Ozy Media went from buzzy to belly-up. Its founder, Carlos Watson, is now on trial
- MAR142023
On March 14, 2023, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York entered judgments by consent against former COO Samir Rao and former Chief of Staff Suzee Han of Ozy Media for their roles in a $50 million fraud scheme that involved gross misrepresentations of the company’s financial condition and business relationships.
-80
Business Practices and Ethical Responsibility
March 28
The event highlights significant unethical business practices by Ozy Media’s former executives, whose deliberate misrepresentations to investors resulted in a major fraud case and SEC enforcement actions. This behavior undermines corporate accountability and transparency, posing risks to investor trust and ethical standards in business.
- FEB232023
On February 23, 2023, the SEC charged Ozy Media, its CEO Carlos R. Watson, Jr., and other top executives with orchestrating a widespread scheme that defrauded investors of approximately $50 million through repeated misrepresentations of the company’s financial condition, revenue figures, and business relationships.
-80
Business Practices and Ethical Responsibility
March 28
The SEC complaint details systematic fraudulent misrepresentations that grossly inflated reported revenue and misled investors, highlighting severe unethical business practices. Such actions undermine corporate accountability and trust, warranting a strongly negative evaluation under 'Business Practices and Ethical Responsibility'.
SEC Charges Ozy Media and its CEO Carlos Watson with Widespread Scheme to Defraud Investors
- FEB232023CEO Arrested for Fraud
-64.51
Ozy Media CEO Carlos Watson was arrested on fraud charges, including conspiracy to commit securities fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft. The indictment alleges that Watson repeatedly misled investors by deliberately falsifying financial information and fabricating business opportunities, actions that reflect severe ethical breaches in corporate governance.
-80
Business Practices and Ethical Responsibility
March 28
The fraudulent activity by the CEO demonstrates a critical lapse in business practices and ethical responsibility. By engaging in deceptive financial reporting and misrepresenting the company’s actual performance, the company's leadership undermines transparency and accountability, which are essential for resisting authoritarian tendencies in corporate governance.
Ozy Media CEO Carlos Watson Arrested On Fraud Charges - Forbes
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