Donald Watkins Jr

Donald Varnado Watkins Jr (born 1972 in Montgomery) is an entrepreneur and former insurance agent. He is the son of attorney Donald Watkins.

For his participation in his father's fraudulent investment schemes, Watkins was convicted on two federal counts of fraud and conspiracy in March 2019. He was sentenced to 27 months in prison and 10 hours of community service. He was also found jointly responsible for paying restitution of $13.8 million.

Watkins completed a bachelor's degree in English at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia in 1994 and interned as a legal investigator for a law firm in San Francisco, California. In 1995 he borrowed money from his father to open a "Cash-N-Checks" store in West Montgomery, incorporating as The Watkins Group.

In 2004 Watkins Jr became a shareholder in Alamerica Bank. He enrolled at the Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University that fall, then transferred to Troy University where he completed a Master's of Business Administration in banking and finance in 2007.

In 2009 Watkins incorporated another business, Highland Virtual Suites, with a business address in suite 100 of the Alamerica Bank building at 2170 Highland Avenue.

In 2012 Watkins went into the insurance business with a State Farm franchise. His insurance business was incorporated from the same address, but later moved into the former Summit Products building next door at 2160 Highland Avenue.

Watkins Jr married the former Chay Hartsfield and has a daughter, Demi. Chay also opened a State Farm agency in 2015. Both she and Donald Jr have served on the advisory board of the Alys Stephens Center.

References

• "Donald Watkins, Jr Is Youngest Check-Cashing Store Owner in Nation" (December 11, 1995) Jet. Vol. 89, No. 5, pp. 20-21