AUG. 3 — A former Arizona Beverages employee who says she worked for company co-founder John Ferolito for approximately 25 years alleges she was subjected to racial harassment, sexual harassment, physical assault, discrimination, retaliation and a hostile work environment before becoming embroiled in a dispute over a home she says was promised to her.
According to a request for comment sent by Quanell X, leader of the New Black Panther Nation and founder of The People’s Global News Network, the former employee alleges Ron Cohen was involved in some of the alleged misconduct. Before publishing its reporting, The People’s Global News Network requested interviews with Ferolito and Cohen and offered them an opportunity to respond to the allegations.
The request for comment states the former employee provided audio and video recordings that she contends support her claims. Quanell X requested separate or joint recorded interviews with Ferolito and Cohen and said written statements would also be accepted for consideration in the organization’s reporting. The correspondence requested a response within 72 hours.
According to the former employee, one video allegedly shows individuals she identifies as representatives of Arizona Beverages visiting her home and discussing transferring the deed to the property. She contends the conversation occurred after she reported workplace misconduct and that the home was promised to her if she remained quiet about her allegations. She further alleges that after filing a complaint, efforts were made to remove her from the property.
An audio recording reviewed by Houston Stringer captures a discussion surrounding the dispute over the home. During the conversation, the speaker acknowledges the former employee’s belief that she had been led to believe the home would be gifted to her and discusses her reliance on that understanding, including money she allegedly spent repairing and improving the property. The speaker also says the available evidence may not be sufficient to obtain legal ownership of the home through litigation and instead discusses pursuing reimbursement for those expenditures during mediation.
The former employee contends the audio recording further supports her allegations by documenting discussions surrounding the promised home and her reliance on those representations.
As of publication, The People’s Global News Network had not publicly reported receiving a response from John Ferolito, Ron Cohen or Saint James Brands
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