Monica Cannon-Grant pleads guilty on federal fraud charges

Boston community organizer Monica Cannon-Grant pleaded guilty on Monday to 18 federal fraud charges for using funds donated to her anti-violence charity for personal expenses. The charges also involve fraudulently using pandemic relief funds from the city of Boston and the state.

Cannon-Grant and her husband, Clark Grant, founded the group Violence in Boston Inc. Cannon-Grant became a prominent activist in Boston after the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in 2020. She organized marches and rallies in Boston and helped distribute food during the pandemic.

In 2022, they were charged with improperly using donations and grants to the organization for personal expenses. Prosecutors say she used the money on things like vacations, rent and a car.

Charges against Clark were dropped after he died in a motorcycle accident two years ago.

In exchange for her guilty plea, several other counts were dropped. The deal with prosecutors allows her to avoid a trial that was set to begin on Oct. 14.

U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley scheduled her sentencing for Jan. 29.

With reporting by WBUR's Fausto Menard