Boston Activist Avoids Prison Time in Fraud Case
A well-known community and social justice activist, who started a nonprofit in Boston aimed at reducing violence, has managed to avoid prison following a federal fraud case. Monica Cannon Grant, 44, was previously recognized as “Bostonian of the Year.” The announcement was made by the Justice Department on Thursday.
In September 2025, Cannon Grant pleaded guilty to 18 out of 27 charges. These included things like wire fraud, mail fraud, and not filing tax returns. She, along with her late husband, allegedly took thousands of dollars in donations meant for nonprofit organizations.
On Thursday, she was sentenced to four years of probation and required to pay back $106,003. Federal prosecutors had suggested that she receive an 18-month prison sentence.
According to Nicholas Bucciarelli, acting inspector general of the Boston Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, “Cannon Grant’s actions were a crime of greed and opportunity.”
Both Cannon Grant and her husband were accused of misusing funds meant for COVID-19 relief, as well as rental assistance funds from the nonprofit Boston Violence. They reportedly collected around $100,000 in unemployment benefits illegally. Interestingly, they founded VIB, a nonprofit that aims to raise social awareness and support community needs, during this time.
The couple received about $54,000 in pandemic relief, some of which was allegedly diverted to pay for personal expenses, like car loans and insurance.
Moreover, they were implicated in defrauding the Boston Housing Stability Department by misrepresenting their income to obtain $12,600 in rental assistance. They also misled the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance with false employment information to help another family secure nearly $44,000 in unemployment benefits.
Prosecutors further stated that Cannon Grant filed false tax returns for 2017 and 2018 and neglected to file for 2019 and 2020. It’s worth noting that she was a prominent figure in Boston’s activist community, receiving various accolades in 2020, including the Boston Globe’s Bostonian of the Year Award.
After Cannon Grant’s indictment in 2022, her nonprofit VIB announced the suspension of all its programs and its closure, although its Facebook page remains active to this day.
