Boston BLM Activist Monica Cannon-Grant Ignorance Award for $106,000 Fraud Scheme

Boston, January 30, 2026 — Monica Cannon-Grant, a prominent Boston-based activist associated with the Black Lives Matter movement and once hailed as "Bostonian of the Year," was sentenced yesterday to no jail time despite pleading guilty to multiple federal fraud charges involving the misuse of over $100,000 in charitable donations and public funds.

Cannon-Grant, 44, founded the nonprofit organization Violence in Boston, aimed at reducing community violence and supporting affected families. However, federal prosecutors accused her and her late husband, Clark Grant, of diverting thousands of dollars from the group for personal expenses, including vacations, shopping sprees, rent payments, and even a rental car after her son crashed their vehicle.

The scheme also involved defrauding the City of Boston out of COVID-19 relief funds, rental assistance, and grants from the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office.

In September 2025, Cannon-Grant pleaded guilty to 18 of 27 counts, including wire fraud, mail fraud, conspiracy, and failing to file tax returns.

Prosecutors had recommended an 18-month prison sentence, arguing that her actions spanned nearly four years and exploited the guise of charity, with losses exceeding $150,000.

They highlighted text messages where she reportedly sought donations from "some white women" to cover personal costs.

U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley, however, opted for a lighter punishment during the sentencing hearing on January 29. Cannon-Grant received four years of probation, six months of home confinement with GPS monitoring, 100 hours of community service, and was ordered to pay $106,003 in restitution.

Additionally, she must attend a mental health program and forfeit assets traceable to the offenses, potentially up to $227,000 as calculated by prosecutors.

During the hearing, Judge Kelley described Cannon-Grant's crimes as "disgraceful" but acknowledged her positive contributions to the community and her expressed remorse.

Cannon-Grant reportedly emphasized her charitable acts in court, which some critics viewed as an attempt to mitigate her sentence.

The case has sparked public debate, with some expressing outrage over the lack of incarceration. Social media reactions highlighted perceived disparities in sentencing, with comments like "Everyone reading this comment would’ve gotten jail time" appearing on local news posts.

Others noted that while Cannon-Grant avoided prison, violating probation could lead to the maximum statutory penalty of two years behind bars.

Cannon-Grant rose to prominence amid the 2020 protests following George Floyd's death, channeling public support into her nonprofit. Donations surged, but investigators uncovered that much of the money funded personal luxuries rather than anti-violence initiatives.

Her husband, Clark Grant, died in 2022 before the case concluded.This sentencing marks the end of a high-profile investigation by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Massachusetts, underscoring ongoing scrutiny of nonprofit accountability in social justice movements.

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