So, remember back in November 2023 when James Whitner was named in an alleged money-laundering case? Well, now we have some pretty interesting updates almost a year later. Don’t worry though, we’re gonna catch you up to speed on what went down before and what happens now! And if you’re looking for more sneaker news, our blog has all the latest guides, drops, and more. So make sure you check it out before we go on with today’s news!
A Little Lawsuit Recap First
In November 2023, the sneaker and streetwear industries woke up to the news of a civil lawsuit against James Whitner. The owner of A Ma Maniere and Social Status was accused of allegedly reselling millions of dollars worth of sneakers to China. Mind you, the lawsuit stated that the kicks he resold came from an “Oregon-based” company. And well, we all know what brand comes from Oregon.
Anyway, we’re not gonna get back into all of those details, but we had to catch you up to it all. You must be asking yourself why we did that, and well, we’re about to tell you! There has been an interesting monetary update on this interesting case. So, let’s find out what went on, shall we?
Whitner Misses Out on the Chance to Get $1.2M Back!
Okay, that sounds pretty dramatic, but bear with us because the story is more complicated than that. You see, in 2021, authorities confiscated $1.2M from the home of Whitner’s close friend Antwain Freeman. Apparently, prosecutors believed that the money was involved in the money transfer relating to the Chinese sales.
Now, fast forward to 2023, and it seems like the US government reached out to James Whitner and multiple other entities to claim the money. In fact, it reached out to them between November 18 and December 17, 2023. Meanwhile, Whitner and co. asked for an extension to file the claim four times. However, the final deadline to claim the money passed on September 13, 2024.
So, in conclusion, this money has now become a US possession. Mind you, the government and Whitner discussed the matter. And in the end, it seems like he wasn’t going to submit a claim for them anymore. Who knew the industry would be this legally interesting without Nike being directly involved?
