A Boston activist who exploited the 2020 Black Lives Matter movement to steal over $100,000 in donations and COVID relief funds walked free with zero jail time, exposing a two-tiered justice system that shields left-wing grifters while hardworking Americans face the full force of the law.
From Community Hero to Convicted Fraudster
Monica Cannon-Grant built her reputation as a social justice champion during the 2020 George Floyd protests, earning accolades from the Boston Globe as Bostonian of the Year and receiving the Boston Celtics Heroes Among Us award. The 44-year-old founder of Violence in Boston nonprofit leveraged this elevated platform to solicit donations meant for anti-violence programs in Boston’s Hyde Park area. Federal prosecutors revealed she instead funneled approximately $54,000 in COVID relief funds toward personal auto loans and insurance, secured $12,600 in fraudulent city rental assistance through income misrepresentation, and obtained roughly $44,000 in unemployment benefits using forged documents.
Social justice advocate once named Bostonian of the Year sentenced in fraud case — but given slap on wrist https://t.co/ZF7C9cqcGj pic.twitter.com/48Lv1OR5QB
— New York Post (@nypost) January 30, 2026
Systematic Exploitation of Public Trust
The fraud scheme spanned four years from 2017 through 2021, during which Cannon-Grant and her late husband Clark Grant systematically diverted nonprofit donations and grant money for personal luxuries. Donor contributions intended for community violence prevention paid for hotel stays, gas station purchases, salon appointments, grocery bills, and vacation travel expenses. The couple compounded their offenses by failing to file federal tax returns for 2019 and 2020, while filing false returns in 2017 and 2018. This pattern of deception directly betrayed donors who believed their contributions would fund legitimate community safety initiatives, instead enriching individuals who exploited America’s charitable spirit during a period of national crisis.
Lenient Sentencing Raises Accountability Questions
Judge Angel Kelley sentenced Cannon-Grant in January 2026 to four years probation and ordered $106,003 restitution, rejecting federal prosecutors’ recommendation for 18 months imprisonment. U.S. Postal Inspection Service Acting Inspector Nicolas Bucciarelli characterized the offenses as “crimes of greed and opportunity,” yet the defendant avoided incarceration despite pleading guilty to 18 counts of wire fraud conspiracy, mail fraud, and related charges in September 2025. Clark Grant, who faced identical charges, died in a March 2023 motorcycle crash before trial. The probation-only sentence raises serious concerns about equal application of justice, particularly when everyday Americans face harsh penalties for far lesser financial crimes or regulatory violations.
Okay, my phone was smacked out of my hand by one of Monica Cannon-Grant's supporters as I tried to ask her if @DoctorTurtleboy brought Monica down after Grant was sentenced to six months of home confinement and four years of probation.
She will also receive mental health care. https://t.co/3cJnWqX6f9 pic.twitter.com/SZTpwm9bOW
— Grant Smith Ellis (@GrantSmithEllis) January 29, 2026
Violence in Boston suspended operations and shut down following the March 2022 indictment, though the organization’s Facebook page remained active. The nonprofit’s collapse eliminated promised community programs, leaving Boston residents who genuinely needed anti-violence resources without assistance. Federal investigators documented the couple’s elaborate deception through financial records showing systematic misappropriation of funds across multiple government agencies and private donors. The case exemplifies how activist credibility gained during politically charged moments can be weaponized for personal enrichment, undermining legitimate charitable efforts and eroding public confidence in nonprofit accountability.
Broader Implications for Nonprofit Oversight
This case highlights systemic vulnerabilities in nonprofit oversight that enabled prolonged fraud during the pandemic relief period when government agencies distributed unprecedented aid amounts with limited verification mechanisms. The Justice Department has prosecuted numerous similar COVID relief fraud schemes involving identity theft and bank fraud totaling millions of dollars. Cannon-Grant’s exploitation of BLM-era fundraising momentum demonstrates how political movements can attract opportunistic actors who prioritize personal gain over stated missions. Donors increasingly face difficult decisions about which organizations deserve trust, particularly when high-profile awards and media recognition fail to indicate financial integrity or genuine commitment to community service.
Sources:
Social justice advocate once named Bostonian of the Year sentenced in fraud case – Fox News
Monica Cannon-Grant fraud charges guilty plea – CBS Boston
Former Director of Boston Nonprofit Pleads Guilty to Fraud Charges – U.S. Department of Justice