News Americas, New York, NY, July 17, 2024: Carlos Watson, the Caribbean heritage co-founder of Ozy Media, now faces up to 37 years in prison after a federal jury found him guilty of defrauding investors and lenders. The jury reached their verdict after three days of deliberation, following an eight-week trial that uncovered numerous deceptive practices within the company.

Carlos Watson, the Jamaican American co-founder and chief executive officer of Ozy Media Inc., center, arriveing at federal court in the Brooklyn borough of New York, US, on Friday, June 7, 2024. Watson was found guilty on charges that he conspired to defraud investors in Ozy Media, the digital media start-up he co-founded on July 16, 2024. Photographer: Yuki Iwamura/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Prosecutors accused Watson of conspiracy to commit securities and wire fraud, presenting detailed evidence of deceptive actions, including impersonated phone calls, fabricated contracts, and inflated claims about Ozy’s financial health. “Watson knew the company was failing, but he was determined to turn Ozy and himself into the next big thing, and he wasn’t going to let the truth stand in his way,” stated Gillian Kassner, the prosecutor, during closing arguments in U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of New York.

Watson’s defense team argued that any fraudulent activities were the responsibility of other Ozy employees. Watson himself testified that his representations to investors were based on genuine assessments of Ozy’s finances and that any discrepancies were typical of a young start-up’s growing pains. Despite these defenses, the jury was not persuaded.

Watson, born and raised in Miami, Florida, is one of four siblings born to Jamaican parents. His early life saw him navigate numerous challenges, including an early expulsion from kindergarten. Watson graduated from Harvard University and went on to play significant roles in political campaigns, including managing Bill Clinton’s 1992 Election Day effort in Miami-Dade County, Florida. He later attended Stanford Law School, where he was an editor of the Stanford Law Review and president of the Stanford Law School Student Government.

After a stint at McKinsey & Company, Watson co-founded Achieva College Prep Service, which he sold to Kaplan, Inc. in 2002. He later became the Global Head of Education Investment Banking for Goldman Sachs and co-founded College Track with Laurene Powell Jobs in 1997.

Watson’s media career began in earnest in 2002 with guest appearances on Fox News and Court TV. He joined CNBC in early 2003 and moved to CNN later that year, where he became a well-known political commentator. His work on CNN, particularly during the 2004 presidential election, and his hosting of “Meet the Faith” on BET, established him as a prominent media figure.

In 2013, Watson co-founded Ozy Media with Samir Rao, raising over $70 million from notable investors. Ozy expanded into TV shows and podcasts, forming partnerships with major media entities like A&E Networks, iHeart Media, and Live Nation. However, the company faced scrutiny in 2021 when a New York Times article exposed potentially fraudulent practices. Watson dismissed the article as a “ridiculous hitjob,” but the damage to Ozy’s reputation was significant.

Sharon Osbourne, wife of rock star Ozzy Osbourne, accused Watson of falsely claiming the couple had invested in Ozy. Watson clarified that the Osbournes received shares as part of a legal settlement, though Osbourne denied ever accepting such offers.

In February 2023, Watson was arrested on fraud charges, shortly after Samir Rao pleaded guilty. Prosecutors alleged that Watson misled investors about Ozy’s financial performance and audience metrics. Despite Watson’s not guilty plea and vigorous defense on Twitter, the evidence presented at trial led to his conviction.

Watson’s trial, presided over by Judge Eric R. Komitee, featured testimonies from high-profile figures, including Google CEO Sundar Pichai, who refuted claims of a $600 million acquisition offer for Ozy. Jury deliberations began on July 12, culminating in the guilty verdict that now sees Watson facing a potential 37-year prison sentence.

News Americas, New York, NY, Mon. July 15, 2024: Jamaican-born engineer and community leader Lesleyann Samuel is celebrating a lifetime of volunteer service with her latest accolade – the Kingston College Old Boys Association USA, (KCOBA), Community Award for Leadership and Philanthropy.

Lesleyann Samuel, l., accepts her award from Rainford “Perry” Bloomfield, Immediate Past President of the KC Old Boys Association New York Chapter. (Photo courtesy of  Leonard McKenzie)

The award is one of several handed out annually by the New York Chapter of the Kingston College alumni organization to individuals who have significantly contributed to their communities in the USA. Samuel, an alumna of the Immaculate Conception High School (ICHS) in Jamaica and a former president of the Union of Jamaican Alumni Associations (USA) Inc. (UJAA), was recognized for her contribution to the ICHS Alumnae Association and her achievements as UJAA President during her eight-year tenure from 2014 to 2022.

Presented at the KCOBA USA Annual Reunion and Awards Gala at Antun’s in Queens Village, New York in May, the award is the latest in a long line of tributes bestowed on Samuel for her voluntary and philanthropic community efforts, which span nearly four decades.

Born in Kingston, Jamaica to R. Karl and Olga Samuel, Lesleyann’s passion for community service was ignited at an early age by her aunt, the late Dothlyn Joyce (“Dotty”) Campbell, former head of dance at Jamaica’s Festival Commission (now the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission – JCDC).

“In addition to her job, my aunt volunteered in a number of organizations and was always helping others. I learned then that life is more than just our day-to-day jobs. Life is about stepping up to our calling. For me, that means doing what I believe I am supposed to do in the service of others who may need whatever help I may be able to offer,” Samuel shared.

Samuel immigrated to the USA at the age of 13 and attended Samuel J. Tilden High School in Brooklyn (now Meyer Levin Junior High School). She earned a scholarship to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, an engineering school in upstate New York, graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering. This achievement led her to become one of a small but growing number of Black female engineers hired at major communication and tech companies in the early 1980s. She landed a position with New Jersey Bell, which later became Bell Atlantic and ultimately Verizon. After over a decade with Verizon in Maryland, she returned to the Tri-State area with a strong desire to “give forward.”

“It started with my getting involved with my alma mater, Immaculate, because I was part of the fifth generation in my family to attend the school. My mom was always involved in the alumnae association, in Jamaica and then in New York, so my sisters and I followed suit. By 2012, I was working extensively with UJAA on the board and really enjoying traveling to Jamaica and making my contribution. So, in 2014, I decided to take the next major step and run for UJAA president, following in the footsteps of my sister Karlene who was president before me.”

Karlene encouraged Lesleyann to “step up” and supported her throughout the journey.

“Most of us are active in our alumni associations because we attended phenomenal schools with phenomenal teachers. By giving forward (I deliberately do not ever use the word giving ‘back,’ because that is not our direction), we demonstrate our patriotism – our love for Jamaica – by helping to ensure that those who come after us have as good or better experiences than ours,” Samuel explained.

Her term as UJAA president was extended due to the COVID pandemic, and by the time it concluded in 2022, the UJAA membership had grown from 32 to over 60 alumni organizations during her presidency – an achievement of which she is especially proud.

With her engineering background, Samuel has been a major force behind UJAA’s support of robotics in Jamaican schools, and has chaperoned several Jamaican student delegations to international robotics competitions in recent years. Her latest project with her own Immaculate Alumnae Association includes extending the robotics program to Immaculate’s Preparatory school, where they participated in the FIRST® LEGO League Jamaica program in late June.

Samuel finds that one of the great ironies in her life of service has been the way her community volunteer activities have influenced her professionally, rather than the other way around.

“Curiously, my leadership and communication skills were developed through my community efforts and helped me in my engineering career, not the other way round. To both, I bring my commitment to a high standard of performance. I also understand that working with volunteers is very different than working with persons who are being paid to do a job. And I also stay positive and proceed as if success is inevitable.”

In addition to her latest award from KCOBA, Samuel has been the recipient of numerous others including The Bob Marley One Love Leadership Award from The Stop The Violence Alliance, The Caribbean Life Impact Award, The Founders Award from the ICHS Alumnae Association, and the United States House of Representatives Proclamation from Congresswoman Yvette Clarke.

As for the future, Samuel is not yet ready to slow down.

“I would like to obtain my doctorate in Organizational Leadership,” she says, “So I’m currently looking for the right programs for me. I would also like to do more work in Jamaica and am always looking at how to contribute in new ways. But generally, I’m staying open to the possibilities – ready as I’ve always been to step through the doors as they open.”