A former Black Lives Matter activist has been ordered by a U.S. federal court to forfeit $244,000 after pleading guilty to embezzling donations and fraudulently obtaining pandemic aid. The case involves Monica Cannon-Grant, a prominent figure in the movement following the 2020 murder of George Floyd.
Court documents detail how Cannon-Grant, through the Boston nonprofit she co-founded, Violence in Boston, diverted more than $180,000 in donated funds for personal use, including vehicle purchases, shopping, and vacations. She separately fraudulently acquired over $50,000 in undeserved pandemic rental assistance and benefits from local authorities. In total, she pleaded guilty to 18 federal charges, including wire fraud and tax offenses.
In January, a Massachusetts district judge sentenced Cannon-Grant to four years of probation, six months of home detention, and 100 hours of community service. The judge’s order, published Monday, formally mandates the restitution payment. The nonprofit, Violence in Boston, was shut down by its board in 2022 after the charges were filed. Cannon-Grant’s husband and co-founder, Clark Grant, died in a motorcycle accident in 2023.
Cannon-Grant’s profile rose significantly during the 2020 protests, leading to her being named Bostonian of the Year by The Boston Globe. Her financial misconduct has drawn attention to accountability within advocacy organizations. This scrutiny extends beyond her case; last October, the U.S. Justice Department issued subpoenas and a search warrant as part of a broader investigation into the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation and other Black-led nonprofits.
The legal actions against Cannon-Grant and the ongoing federal probe underscore heightened oversight of charitable entities that gained prominence and substantial funding during the peak of the racial justice protests. The outcome reinforces legal consequences for financial misconduct in the nonprofit sector, regardless of an organization’s cause or public visibility.
