Sir Maejor Page, formerly known as Tyree Conyers-Page, is facing federal charges of wire fraud, concealment money laundering, and money laundering after being accused of creating a fake Black Lives Matter sub-organization to steal nearly $500,000 from donors. He allegedly created a bank account in 2018 titled “Black Lives Matter of Greater Atlanta Inc.” and received donations after Facebook users linked their birthday donation wishes to the account. Despite the organization having its tax-exempt status revoked, Page managed to defraud donors out of $467,345.18.
In the first two years of the organization, Page’s account rarely had more than $5,000, and at one point had a balance of -$12.42. However, following George Floyd’s murder in May 2020, donations drastically increased. Page’s social media page received significant donations in June, July, and August 2020, totaling over $467,000. While Page claimed the funds would not be used for personal means, he used a debit card linked to the account to make purchases related to food, dining, entertainment, clothing, furniture, and more. His largest purchase was a home and an adjacent vacant lot valued at approximately $112,000 in Toledo, Ohio.
To conceal his ownership of the property, Page had the real estate transaction state that the purchase was made by “Hi Frequency Ohio via Sir Maejor Page.” He also bought a handgun and rifles with the donated funds. FBI agent Matthew Desorbo testified that Page used the money for lavish purchases, including multiple transactions at a lounge in Toledo, purchasing suits, and transferring funds to his personal CashApp. Desorbo raised questions about the source of Page’s income, given his modest salary from the organization and the seemingly extravagant lifestyle he was leading.
Videos posted by Page on social media showed a significant change in his lifestyle after the funds started rolling in. Desorbo highlighted these videos in court, noting the change in Page’s clothing and demeanor. Page’s defense lawyer argued that his client’s behavior was merely “young man’s braggadocio” and that most of the donated money had been seized by the FBI after Page’s arrest. Page claimed in one video that the Toledo house he purchased was intended for use as a community house or battered women’s home, not as his personal residence.
In September 2020, the FBI stated that Page had spent over $200,000 on personal items using donations from the BLMGA social media page, with no identifiable purchases or expenditures for social or racial justice causes. Page’s trial has been delayed multiple times, most recently in August. Despite the charges against him, Page continues to assert his innocence and claims that the funds were not used for personal gain. The case highlights the dangers of fraudulent organizations and the need for transparency and accountability in charitable donations.