BLM-linked activist pleads guilty to defrauding donors for lavish lifestyle

Monica Cannon-Grant, a Boston activist once honored for civic engagement, pleaded guilty Monday to 18 counts of fraud tied to a scheme with her late husband that diverted donor dollars and public funds through their Violence in Boston group. Federal prosecutors say the scheme falsely portrayed the nonprofit as a vehicle to fight police violence and support community needs while lining the couple’s pockets.

Among the donors targeted was a Black Lives Matter group that was asked to contribute about $3,000, and Cannon-Grant obtained about $100,000 in pandemic unemployment benefits that she used to pay a personal auto loan and insurance. In court filings, she admitted moving funds into personal bank accounts to cover rent, shopping, meals delivered to her home, a nail salon visit, and a summer vacation to Maryland.

Authorities allege the acts spanned several years, with donors misled about the use of funds and the group’s work to reduce violence in Boston. Cannon-Grant and her husband were arrested in March 2022; Violence in Boston ceased operations in July 2024, per a pinned statement on the group’s social media. Her husband, Clark Grant, died in a motorcycle crash in March 2023, and the charges against him were later dropped.

The U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts described the case as a betrayal of donors and the public trust, noting that Cannon-Grant and her husband repeatedly exploited public financial programs while presenting themselves as legitimate nonprofit organizers. The proceedings detail a pattern of transferring funds to personal accounts to cover everyday expenses, conflicting with the group’s claimed mission to address violence and support vulnerable communities.

Cannon-Grant’s activism had earned local recognition, including Boston Globe Magazine’s Bostonian of the Year and a Celtics Heroes Among Us award in 2020. Those accolades contrasted sharply with the conduct alleged in federal court, raising questions about accountability in philanthropic campaigns and the scrutiny faced by organizations that rely on donor generosity.

The charges carry a potential decades-long prison term, but prosecutors are seeking a far more lenient punishment, with a maximum of two years in prison, according to local reporting. Sentencing in federal court will determine the next chapter for Cannon-Grant and the legacy of Violence in Boston, a group that had once been cited as a hopeful example of community-led reform but was dissolved after the allegations.

The case underscores ongoing concerns about the misappropriation of nonprofit funds and the importance of transparency in fundraising efforts tied to social justice movements. As federal authorities pursue the consequences of the plea, victims and donors alike will be watching for how the court addresses accountability and the broader implications for grassroots activism and charitable giving.