Boston BLM leader and her husband hit with federal fraud, conspiracy charges

Monica Cannon-Grant, a Black Lives Matter (BLM) chief in Boston, and her husband, Clark Grant, had been hit with an 18-page federal indictment for fraud and conspiracy on Tuesday.

Federal authorities allege that Cannon-Grant and Grant have defrauded a big sum of donor {dollars} out of over $1 million in grants and donations given to their nonprofit, Violence in Boston, which goals to assist violence survivors within the metropolis.

Cannon-Grant, a distinguished BLM organizer, was arrested exterior of her Beantown house Tuesday and declined to remark on the courthouse after being launched on private recognizance, that means she’ll stay free with out bail however with a written promise to look in courtroom.

LEFT-WING ACTIVIST ALLEGEDLY DEFRAUDED $450G USING ‘BLACK LIVES MATTER OF GREATER ATLANTA’ FACEBOOK PAGE

The BLM activist has claimed innocence on-line and, underneath the phrases of her launch from Choose Judith Dein, is allowed to proceed to work at her nonprofit twice per week however can not deal with the funds. She might be arraigned subsequent week.

Prosecutors didn’t say how a lot cash was allegedly taken by the couple.

Cannon-Grant’s legal professional, Robert Goldstein, stated “we’re extraordinarily disenchanted the federal government rushed to judgment right here” in a press release exterior the courthouse.

“VIB (Violence in Boston) and Monica have been absolutely cooperating, and their manufacturing of information stays ongoing,” Goldstein stated. “Drawing conclusions from an incomplete factual document doesn’t signify the honest and absolutely knowledgeable course of a citizen deserves from its authorities, particularly somebody like Monica who has labored tirelessly on behalf of her group.”

Michael Harris protests in entrance of the Glenn County Courthouse
(Matt Leach/Fox Digital)

“We stay absolutely assured Monica might be vindicated when a whole factual document emerges,” he continued.

Grant was arrested final October by federal brokers who raided the couple’s house and was beforehand charged with mendacity on a mortgage assertion and amassing pandemic unemployment advantages illegally.

The prolonged indictment alleges Cannon-Grant and her husband engaged in three totally different fraud schemes: mendacity on a mortgage utility, defrauding donors and illicitly amassing roughly $1 million in pandemic-related unemployment advantages.

The couple is accused of utilizing a $6,000 grant meant for a visit for at-risk younger males for private expenditures.

A girl holds a Black Lives Matter flag throughout an occasion in remembrance of George Floyd and to name for justice for individuals who misplaced family members to police violence exterior the Minnesota State Capitol on Might 24, 2021, in Saint Paul, Minnesota. 
(Kerem Yucel/AFP through Getty Photos)

In response to a visit proposal, the enterprise was “to offer these younger males publicity to communities exterior of the violence-riddled neighborhoods that they navigate each day.”

As an alternative, the pair spared no expense on a trip, based on federal authorities, consuming a meal at a Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., shopping for merchandise at Walmart and taking visits to a nail salon amongst different expenditures.

Prosecutors additionally allege that Cannon-Grant advised each the state legal professional common’s workplace and the IRS that she took no wage from her nonprofit whereas paying herself $2,788 per week starting in October 2020.

Cannon-Grant, 41, is the founding father of Violence in Boston and was beforehand named “Bostonian of the Yr” by Boston Globe Journal.