Toledo, Ohio – Sir Maejor Page, a 35-year-old man from Toledo, has been handed a 42-month prison term following his conviction on charges of wire fraud and money laundering. U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Helmick also imposed a $400 special assessment fee on Page, who deceived donors into giving more than $450,000 under the guise of supporting social justice through his nonprofit organization, “Black Lives Matter of Greater Atlanta” (BLM of Greater Atlanta).
Page’s operation came under scrutiny after he continued to solicit donations via the organization’s Facebook page, despite the revocation of its tax-exempt status due to non-submission of IRS Form 990 for three consecutive years. He leveraged the social media platform to project an image of active engagement in social and racial issues to attract donations, falsely claiming that funds would be used to “fight for George Floyd” and support the broader movement. This fraud led approximately 18,000 individuals to donate through the Facebook account he managed.
The investigation revealed that Page misappropriated the funds for personal expenses, including entertainment, hotel accommodations, clothing, and firearms. Furthermore, he purchased a residential property intended for personal use under the alias “Hi Frequency Ohio” and even requested the seller to sign a nondisclosure agreement to keep his identity as the buyer hidden.
U.S. Attorney Rebecca C. Lutzko of the Northern District of Ohio condemned Page’s actions, highlighting the betrayal of public trust and the damage caused to the credibility of legitimate nonprofit organizations. “Mr. Page took advantage of a cause meant to fight social injustices, using it instead to line his own pockets with thousands of dollars of donations,” Lutzko stated. She emphasized the commitment of her office to prosecuting individuals who exploit charitable giving for personal gain.
The case against Page was pursued by the FBI Cleveland Division, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gene Crawford and Rob Melching leading the prosecution. This sentencing marks a significant step in holding accountable those who misuse platforms and causes that are meant to spearhead social change, ensuring that public faith in genuine nonprofit endeavors is maintained and protected.
