GoFundMe will refund money donated to Black Lives Matter Greater Atlanta after founder’s arrest

OHIO — GoFundMe announced in a statement Saturday night that anyone who donated to the Black Lives Matter Greater Atlanta campaign can request a refund after federal charges were brought against the group’s leader.

The FBI says Sir Maejor Page, also known as Tyree Conyers-Page, created the Black Lives Matter Greater Atlanta Facebook page representing the group and solicited donations through GoFundMe. Investigators said Page later used those funds to make personal purchases that included a home, high-end clothes and accessories, furniture and more.

[RELATED: Atlanta-based activist allegedly used BLM group to launder more than $200K for personal purchases, FBI says]

Page was taken into custody on Friday morning in Toledo, Ohio.

A news release from the FBI read:

“In June 2020, BLMGA social media page received approximately $36,493.80 in donations, in July 2020, it received approximately $370,933.69 in donations, and in August 2020, an additional $59,914.69 in donations, all of this money was transferred from the social media donations to the bank account titled and operated in the name of ‘Black Lives Matter of Greater Atlanta, Inc’, owned and operated by Page."

GoFundMe announced it has removed the fundraisers associated with the BLMGA organization and banned Page from using the platform for any future campaigns. GoFundMe has also ensured that no one can start a new GoFundMe for BLMGA. They’ve also removed the organization from partner site PayPal.

Anyone who donated to BLMGA can request a refund HERE.

“Campaigns with misuse are very rare, and we take all complaints very seriously,” GoFundMe officials said. “Our team is working with law enforcement and assisting them in the investigation.”

According to the FBI, Page told supporters he donated the money to “fight for George Floyd.”

The FBI later determined that Page had used more than $200,000 to make personal purchases. A federal complaint outlines several purchases, including a security system that costs $1,310, tailored suits and accessories totaling $2,065, furniture purchases totaling more than $12,000, Walmart purchases totaling more than $4,000 and Home Depot charges of $2,125.67.

The latest purchase was a home in Toldeo, Ohio and an adjacent lot that totaled about $112,000.

The complaint says Page bought the home under the name of Hi Frequency Ohio, an organization for that he was listed as treasurer and general counsel for.

The property is also listed as his personal address on several public documents, including an application form for the purchase of a pistol and two rifles. The complaint said Page bought the firearms using a personal bank account which he had transferred the money into from the BLMGA account.

A news release said the following:

“Numerous videos and livestream videos were posted to Page’s personal social media pages showing himself in what appeared to be newly purchased clothing, hotel rooms, and office space in Atlanta. Several audio statements are made by Page in the videos boasting about the money he has, his tailored suits, his nice cufflinks and ‘$150 ties’ and boasting about ‘my room way up at the top….at the top top...they put the bottom feeders on these floors…”

Black Lives Matter Atlanta meets with civil rights leaders Channel 2's Rikki Klaus reports it was a gathering of seasoned and young activists.

Cox Media Group