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Uncle Nearest’s receiver seeks to bar its founders from speaking publicly about the brand’s ongoing case. In a new update shared by The Lynchburg Times, receiver Phillip G. Young Jr. requested that a federal judge issue a gag order that would prevent Fawn Weaver, Keith Weaver, and their related entity Grant Sidney from publicly discussing the receivership on social media or with employees, vendors, creditors, shareholders, investors, and distributors. This request was made in a filing on Monday, March 23, notes the outlet. The request comes after Fawn took to Instagram to announce that “the receivership has ended” and “the reorganization has begun.” The post coincided with a press release stating that Uncle Nearest was filing a lawsuit against its lender, Farm Credit Mid-America, in the New York Supreme Court for a smear campaign that made false claims of missing inventory, financial misconduct, negative cash flow, and insolvency. The receivership was put in place in August 2025...
Dr. Ashton Sellers has taken over a longstanding animal hospital and made history in the process. Hickman Mills Animal Hospital was opened in 1957 by Dr. L.W. Williams, per the organization’s website. Now, Sellers becomes its third owner and also leads as the head veterinarian, according to Fox4. “Once you move into ownership, it’s just a whole different ballgame because now it’s you,” Sellers told the outlet. “From the minute somebody walks in the door, it’s your business, your staff; these are your patients, and that just comes with a different mindset that you have to have.” This was a long-held dream of Sellers, who aspired for ownership when she was young, her mother, Susan Weaver, told the outlet. “She’s always excelled; she’s always achieved and always had goals, and she’s always been determined to accomplish her goals,” Weaver said. Making History Sellers also makes history in her new role. She is the first Black woman in Kansas City to own an animal hospital and the...
Jasmine Johnson is behind a historic cannabis ecosystem in Florida. Johnson, who has a background in property management, real estate, and asset management, has embraced a business-driven mindset shaped by Miami, where she was born, and her upbringing in a family that builds and runs their own ventures. As a child, Johnson witnessed and participated in the early stages of her parents’ entrepreneurial journey in real estate, property management, and asset management, which included her mother’s acquisition of a brokerage called Frank K. Cooper Real Estate. Her parents went on to acquire and finance a 44-property portfolio they managed, and Johnson began working there day-to-day from elementary school through high school taking calls or joining her mother to collect rent, she shared in an interview with AFROTECH™. GŪD ESSENCE Today, Johnson, a Florida International University graduate, manages 25% of her family’s portfolio through Johnson Property Management Services (JPMS), which...
A judge has blocked Fawn Weaver’s bankruptcy petitions, according to The Tennessean. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, court-appointed receiver Phillip G. Young Jr. oversees the whiskey brand’s assets, including real estate holdings , intellectual property, affiliated ventures, and related entities. Weaver took to Instagram on March 17 and announced, “The receivership of Uncle Nearest is done.” The receivership had been in place since August 2025 after the company allegedly defaulted on more than $108 million in loans to its lender, Farm Credit Mid-America. “If you’ve been reading the headlines lately, you probably thought that wasn’t possible, but rest assured it always was, and it is,” Fawn said in the video. “I’m so grateful to God for our leadership team, who kept their heads down and kept working.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Fawn Weaver (@fawn.weaver) Simultaneously, Fawn, Keith, and her investment holding company, Grant Sidney, filed a lawsuit against...
Sanctions have been brought forward against Uncle Nearest founder Fawn Weaver. On Tuesday, March 17, Weaver took to Instagram to share a video that opened with her saying “the receivership of Uncle Nearest is done.” As AFROTECH™ previously reported, the whiskey brand founded by Weaver and her husband, Keith, had entered into a receivership after defaulting on more than $108 million in loans to its lender, Farm Credit Mid-America. Tennessee attorney Phillip G. Young Jr. is the court-appointed receiver as of August 2025, which permitted him to oversee Uncle Nearest’s assets, including its distillery in Shelbyville, TN, as well as “real estate holdings, intellectual property, affiliated ventures, and related entities,” AFROTECH™ noted. Young also attempted to sell the Weavers’ Martha’s Vineyard property, though the sale was placed on hold by a federal judge until appraisals, notice, and a hearing are completed, the Moore County Observer reports. After months under a receivership that...
Sienna Wings is having complications with obtaining its signage. As AFROTECH™ previously told you, Sienna Wings was founded by 22-year-old Tyla-Simone Crayton and her mother, Monique. At 14, she officially launched the company and began selling wing plates with a signature sauce from her home, and made $50,000 in revenue, according to an Instagram video. It wasn’t until 2019 that she began manufacturing three flavors, Sweet & Tangy, Lemon Pepper, and Spice It Up!, per the company’s website. In 2021, Crayton brought her signature sauces to “Shark Tank.” She landed a $100,000 deal with jewelry designer Kendra Scott on the show for a product line called Sienna Sauce. However, she had not received payment two years later as she was reportedly still working on due diligence for Scott’s team, according to a separate AFROTECH™ article. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sauce Boss™ (@tylasimonecrayton) Fortunately, that didn’t deter Crayton from her journey in...
An investment from Jay-Z is being put into question in the latest legal filing surrounding Uncle Nearest. The whiskey brand launched by Fawn Weaver and her husband, Keith, is under receivership after defaulting on more than $108 million in loans from Farm Credit Mid-America, as AFROTECH™ previously reported. The receivership encompasses Uncle Nearest’s Shelbyville , TN distillery , real estate holdings, intellectual property, affiliated ventures, and related entities. Court-appointed receiver Phillip Young Jr. claims Uncle Nearest has nearly $200 million in debt and is insolvent. He is also seeking full transparency into the brand’s financial records, including a $20 million loan from Jay-Z’s venture capital firm, MarcyPen, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader. Farm Credit’s filing states it was informed by Weaver that the $20 million was a loan from Grant Sidney, yet it claims the money actually came from MP-Tenn LLC, otherwise known as MarcyPen. Grant Sidney is the largest...
The judge-appointed receiver of Uncle Nearest claims that Fawn Weaver is trying to sway public opinion. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, Judge Charles E. Atchley Jr. will soon determine if the receivership will be expanded to include 4 Front Street LLC, Grant Sidney Inc., Humble Baron Inc., Nashwood Inc., Quill & Cask Owner LLC, Shelbyville Barrel House BBQ LLC, and Shelbyville Grand LLC — as requested by receiver Phillip Young Jr. — or be terminated, as requested by Fawn and her husband Keith. Weaver, the CEO and founder of the whiskey brand, added “Follow The Case” to FawnWeaver.com, reports the Lexington Herald-Leader. In a March 5 filing, Young argued that this move contradicts Judge Atchley’s order warning against trying the case in public, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader . “It has become clear that [Fawn Weaver’s filing last week] was intended for social media consumption, not to guide this Court in making its decision. This past week, Fawn Weaver has openly, and in...
Pinky Cole has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. AFROTECH™ spoke with the founder of Slutty Vegan earlier this year, ahead of the announcement that she was joining the 17th season of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta.” At the time, she acknowledged the risks of entrepreneurship and the importance of not operating from ego. “There’s risk in everything. There’s risk in being an entrepreneur. I’ve gotten out of the ego conversation a long time ago,” she explained to AFROTECH™ . “I’ve been laid at the cross plenty of times. And at the end of the day, like I’m really not concerned with other people’s opinions. As long as I provide them a really good product and they have a really good experience, that’s what matters to me. My reputation will precede me and the services that I offer will precede me. I’m excited about new opportunities to be able to amplify my business.” Cole has faced various challenges and changes as the entrepreneur behind the plant-based venture that launched as a food...
Hanifa, a global luxury brand, is pausing production. Hanifa is the brainchild of Anifa Mvuemba, who founded the brand in 2012 on the belief that women can excel in all areas, according to The New York Times. The brand is recognized for its inclusive sizing and vibrant pieces. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, Mvuemba shook up the fashion world when she hosted a virtual 3D fashion show for her Pink Label Congo collection during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hanifa has reached fashion’s biggest stage, making its Met Gala debut in 2025 when Savannah James wore one of its designs, per Vogue. In November 2025, the company offered a 45% discount during its Hanifa Friday sale, with select items available for preorder, The Cut reported. Customers flocked to secure items from the brand, hoping to wear them for special occasions. However, some customers waited for a couple of months and still had not received their orders. “I haven’t received a single email and I have items that was supposed to...
Khris Johnson paused his medical studies to make history in pursuit of another dream. Food & Wine reports that homebrewing became a hobby for Johnson while he was in college. He had been on a premed track and simultaneously secured a role at Cigar City Brewing Co. in Tampa, FL, working under Wayne Wambles, who was a brewmaster. Wambles had seen something special in Johnson and shared positive sentiments about him, stating he “had a great deal of love for creating harmonious, complex beers,” according to the outlet. Green Bench Brewing Co. Johnson’s passion for homebrewing prompted him to take a break from his medical career aspirations and focus on the venture full-time. He moved to St. Petersburg, FL and, in 2013, opened his first microbrewery, Green Bench Brewing Co., alongside Nathan Stonecipher, Steven Duffy, and Brian Wing, according to the company website. Green Bench Brewing Co. offers beers, mead, and cider made with fresh, local ingredients. Customers can choose from...
One of Uncle Nearest’s assets is up for sale. The whiskey brand is awaiting a decision from Judge Charles E. Atchley Jr., who will determine whether the company’s receivership will remain in place or be expanded . As AFROTECH™ previously reported, the whiskey brand, which once made headlines for surpassing a $1 billion valuation, defaulted on more than $108 million in loans from its lender, Farm Credit Mid-America. In the latest update, receiver Phillip G. Young Jr. — who oversees Uncle Nearest’s assets, including its distillery in Shelbyville, real estate holdings, intellectual property, affiliated ventures, and related entities — l isted the business’s Martha’s Vineyard property for sale, according to The Spirits Business . Farm Credit Mid-America claims that Uncle Nearest borrowed $2.3 million for the property, which was purchased through a separate LLC and mortgaged to another lender, notes the outlet. This move violated the loan agreements. The property was listed for $2.59...
Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star Donovan Mitchell wants to make wellness more accessible to families. WellWithAll Mitchell told AFROTECH™ he is intentional about making moves that will last beyond his playing days. Generational wellness is part of his long-term strategy, and he aims to invest in “real, accessible tools and resources that help families take control of their health every day.” According to a press release shared with AFROTECH™, Mitchell is aligning himself with WellWithAll, a wellness brand co-founded by Demond Martin and Carmichael Roberts. Per the company’s website, WellWithAll is a black-owned and offers supplements and energy drinks. According to Cuisine Noir, its energy drinks contain 45 calories and 80 milligrams of natural caffeine for energy. The brand can also be found at retailers such as Walmart, Target, and Fruitful Yield Health Foods, according to its website. What’s more, 20% of WellWithAll’s profits are allocated to health equity initiatives, notes Cuisine...
Nipsey Hussle’s spirit lives on not only in his music but in the business world. The late rapper passed away in 2019 at 33, as AFROTECH™ previously reported. His oldest brother, Blacc Sam, has played a pivotal role in ensuring “The Marathon Continues.” One example is The Marathon Clothing brand, which launched in 2009 and opened its flagship store in 2017 in the Crenshaw District of Los Angeles, according to a press release. Blacc Sam, as Nipsey Hussle’s business partner, revealed that his late brother’s children, Emani Asghedom and Kross Asghedom, would become owners of the clothing store. “When I say we own it, it’s in Hussle’s kids’ names, in their trust fund,” Blacc Sam told Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings, hosts of the “Earn Your Leisure” podcast. “When they get older, this is something their father worked for, and that they own, and that’s important to me. Also, just having a brick-and-mortar once again reinforced what Hussle told us and taught us.” He continued, “Just through...
Fearless Fund is launching a microfinance fund in Ghana. Fearless Fund is an Atlanta-based venture capital firm for women of color, backed by Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, PayPal and Costco, and led by founding partner and CEO Arian Simone. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, it had been targeted with a lawsuit in 2023 regarding its mission to fund women of color entrepreneurs. The lawsuit, which was settled in 2024, was brought by legal activist Edward Blum and his organization, American Alliance for Equal Rights. It challenged a US $20,000 grant program for Black women-owned businesses that Fearless Fund operated in partnership with JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Mastercard, according to the outlet. Mission Extends To Ghana The outcome was seen as a victory for Fearless Fund because the case avoided escalation to the U.S. Supreme Court, which could have had consequences for Black founders seeking funding, Simone told AFROTECH™ at the time . A year after its settlement, Fearless Fund...