Boston BLM leader, husband charged with fraud, conspiracy
Category: News & Politics
Via: vic-eldred • 2 years ago • 88 commentsBy: Yaron Steinbuch (New York Post)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
A prominent Black Lives Matter leader in Boston and her husband have been charged with using a $6,000 grant to take at-risk youth to a Philadelphia retreat on themselves — for a getaway to Maryland, restaurants and shopping sprees, among other things.
Monica Cannon-Grant, 41, founder of the nonprofit Violence in Boston, and her husband,, Clark Grant, 38, were charged Tuesday in an 18-count federal indictment, including charges for wire fraud and making false statements to a mortgage lending business.
In June 2019, she was given a check for $6,000 for a trip to Philly "to give these young men exposure to communities outside of the violence riddled neighborhoods that they navigate daily," the Boston Globe reported.
Monica Cannon-Grant and her husband have been charged with using a $6,000 grant for at-risk youth for a getaway to Maryland, restaurants and a shopping spree.
Instead, the couple used the money to take a vacation to Maryland, eat at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., Shake Shack and other eateries, and pay for car rentals, Walmart purchases and visits to a nail salon, the feds allege.
The indictment charges them in connection with three separate schemes — defrauding donors, lying on a mortgage application and illegally collecting about $100,000 in pandemic unemployment benefits, according to the Globe.
Clark Grant had already been charged by the feds for allegedly engaging in pandemic-assistance fraud after a raid at the couple's Taunton home last year, the news outlet reported.
Monica Cannon-Grant received the grant money to show at-risk youth "communities outside of the violence riddled neighborhoods that they navigate daily."
He was slapped with charges of illegally collecting unemployment benefits and making false statements on a mortgage application.
On Tuesday, Cannon-Grant was arrested at her home on charges the couple raised over $1 million in grants and donations for people in need, but took a significant amount of it for themselves, the Globe said.
They allegedly used some of the money to pay rent on their Boston apartment and buy a car for a relative, officials said.
When Violence in Boston was launched in 2017, it operated out of Cannon-Grant's Roxbury home, but by 2020 the nonprofit had moved to a sprawling site in Hyde Park, according to the paper.
It had amassed more than $50,000 in donations by April 2020, according to the feds.
Monica Cannon-Grant and her husband, Clark Grant, were charged with defrauding donors, lying on a mortgage application and illegally collecting about $100,000 in pandemic unemployment benefits.
Prosecutors said that in October 2020, Cannon-Grant began paying herself $2,788 a week, though she had reported to the IRS and the state attorney general's charity division that she received no salary, according to the Globe.
On Tuesday, a judge released Cannon-Grant on personal recognizance and told her she may continue to work her nonprofit, which runs a food pantry, but cannot handle its finances.
Cannon-Grant has proclaimed her innocence and declined to comment Tuesday outside the Boston federal courthouse.
Her attorney, Robert Goldstein, said in a statement that "we are extremely disappointed the government rushed to judgment here."
"(Violence in Boston) and Monica have been fully cooperating and their production of records remains ongoing. Drawing conclusions from an incomplete factual record does not represent the fair and fully informed process a citizen deserves from its government, especially someone like Monica who has worked tirelessly on behalf of her community," he said.
A judge released Monica Cannon-Grant on personal recognizance and told her she may continue to work her nonprofit but cannot handle its finances.
"We remain fully confident Monica will be vindicated when a complete factual record emerges," the lawyer added.
The feds did not disclose how much of the nonprofit's money was diverted to the couple's private accounts.
Cannon-Grant, who has been honored as a Bostonian of the Year by the Boston Globe Magazine and as Beantown's "best social justice advocate" by Boston Magazine, rose to prominence in 2020 after organizing a march to protest the killing of George Floyd and other black citizens at the hands of police.
Donald Osgood, one of her many supporters, said the charges did not change his feelings.
"My opinion stands as I know her work," he told the Globe in an email. "She has helped way too many people and innocent until proven guilty is the American way.
"She has provided food, Ubers, hotels to many of the clients she served since doing this work. A lot of the things she's done for the community were out of pocket expenses and others chipping in. Let's see where this goes. I still have faith in her work which she continues to do even under these circumstances," Osgood added.
Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden's spokesman Jim Borghesani told the Globe that "this is a disturbing violation of the public trust and should not reflect on the organizations that used asset forfeiture funds for their intended purpose."
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Howie Carr had the following questions for us to ponder this morning:
Is Monica still the Boston Globe’s “Bostonian of the Year?”
Does Boston Magazine still think she’s “the best social justice advocate in Boston?”
Do the Boston Celtics still consider her “a hero among us?”
Does the Boston City Council still offer her “congratulations” after her 18-count indictment?
Does the Roxbury Unity Community still consider her a “Leader of Tomorrow?”
Probably all just a big misunderstanding and all.
Nothing to see here, folks, just racists persecuting BLM-connected good folks.
So we'll be told soon enough.
She has provided food, Ubers, hotels to many of the clients she served since doing this work. A lot of the things she's done for the community were out of pocket expenses and others chipping in.
I don’t know them but this person does. If they’re guilty then they deserve punishment, but it’s clear that they didn’t get into their position by never helping anyone ever.
I recently learned of white person who took advantage of pandemic funds to the tune of 7 million dollars. I won’t get into what business this person created, but it has no employees of significance and is clearly just a shell to dump free government money into. This person has never helped anyone but themself in their entire life, and so far is getting away with their scam scot free. As far as the qualifications to run a multimillion dollar business, this person’s last job was pouring wine in a tasting room, if that tells you anything. This person belongs in prison, and it’s upsetting to me that the family members who know about the scam and told me about it are agreeing that their family member belongs in prison, but not doing anything about it.
Stick to the 'topic' Hal, it upsets the finger painters if you don't.
That will do.
The 57 people the Justice Department charged with trying to steal millions in PPP loans - The Washington Post
Nine charged with $24 million COVID-relief fraud scheme | Internal Revenue Service (irs.gov)
Four people charged in $35m Covid relief fraud scheme (yahoo.com)
The previous Administration handed out money like candy...
The current Administration just named a federal prosecutor to track down all of the fraudsters...
Justice Dept. names top prosecutor to pursue COVID-19 relief fraud cases worth billions - UPI.com
What a grift that organization is.
About the only thing they accomplished was bailing out that anti-Semitic assassin in Louisville.
I say thank God. Imagine if they dedicated their time and money to their "goals?"
About the only thing they accomplished was bailing out that anti-Semitic assassin in Louisville.
Yup, (don't forget the riots) and they could have done so much worse.
But they are so upstanding citizens! /s
I guess that only works for certain people. Everybody else gets have to deal with riots.
Lookie here, a bad apple ... guess it's time to toss out the whole barrel.
Ya! They'll use this one example to smear the entire movement.
What else is new?
Not the only bad apple in THAT barrel.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/blms...
404 page
Other than a 404 error, what size of barrel are they using?
BLM leader arrested for allegedly spending $200K in donations on tailored suits, a house, and guns | Washington Examiner
BLM's millions unaccounted for after leaders quietly jumped ship | Washington Examiner
here you are!
Seems like the links worked fine for me.
The Washington Examiner is NOT a credible source
It is common knowledge. You never heard any of this? The link doesn't work for you?
Here:
N o one appears to have been in charge at Black Lives Matter for months. The address it lists on tax forms is wrong, and the charity's two board members won't say who controls its $60 million bankroll, a Washington Examiner investigation has found.
BLM's shocking lack of transparency surrounding its finances and operations raises major legal and ethical red flags, multiple charity experts told the Washington Examiner .
"Like a giant ghost ship full of treasure drifting in the night with no captain, no discernible crew, and no clear direction," CharityWatch Executive Director Laurie Styron said of BLM.
BLM co-founder Patrisse Cullors appointed two activists to serve as the group's senior directors following her resignation in May amid scrutiny over her personal finances. But both quietly announced in September that they never took the jobs due to disagreements with BLM. They told the Washington Examiner they don't know who now leads the nation's most influential social justice organization.
Paul Kamenar, counsel for conservative watchdog group the National Legal and Policy Center, said a full audit and investigation into Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, the legal entity that represents the national BLM movement, is warranted.
"This is grossly irregular and improper for a nonprofit with $60 million in its coffers," Kamenar said.
BLM previously came under fire from local black activists after the New York Post reported in April that Cullors, then its executive director, had spent $3.2 million on real estate across the United States. The reports followed BLM's disclosure in February 2021 that it closed out 2020 with $60 million in its bank accounts.
BLM denied allegations that Cullors spent BLM funds on her personal properties. However, BLM and other activist organizations under Cullors's control offered contracts to an art company led by the father of her only child, the Daily Caller reported.
Cullors announced in May she was stepping down and that activists Makani Themba and Monifa Bandele would lead the organization as senior executives. But Themba and Bandele revealed in September that they never actually took the job because of disagreements with BLM's "acting Leadership Council."
Both Themba and Bandele told the Washington Examiner they do not know who took over as BLM's top executive after their departure. And neither would say who served on the council.
"We never actually started in the position, so we never received any detailed information," Themba said.
While a charity's finances are ultimately the responsibility of its board of directors, BLM's bylaws explicitly state that its executive director "shall have charge of all funds and securities of the Corporation."
The two remaining BLM board members , Shalomyah Bowers and Raymond Howard, did not return numerous requests for comment asking who has been in charge of BLM and its money since Cullors left the charity in May.
Bowers served as the treasurer for multiple activist organizations run by Cullors, including BLM PAC and a Los Angeles-based jail reform group that paid Cullors $20,000 a month and dropped nearly $26,000 for "meetings" at a luxury Malibu beach resort in 2019.
Bowers declined to comment when reached by phone on Monday.
Howard has spoken openly on Facebook about his work with BLM and his close relationship with Cullors, but he appears to have recently taken steps to conceal his role with the charity.
As recently as last Friday, Howard's LinkedIn profile stated that he is the director of operations for "An International Social Justice Organization." His page was modified after the Washington Examiner contacted Howard for comment and now states he serves as the director of operations for a "Non Profit." A reference to Howard's position as the finance and operations manager of New Impact Partners, a Dayton, Ohio-based consulting firm owned by his sister , was also removed from his LinkedIn profile.
Also as recently as last Friday, a website for New Impact Partners attributed a quote to "Raymond" from "Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation," thanking the consulting firm for its help solving BLM's organizational challenges. The attribution was removed from the website after the Washington Examiner asked Howard how much BLM has paid his sister's firm.
Despite New Impact Partners's apparent efforts to conceal its affiliation with BLM, the consulting firm continues to solicit applications for its "Talent Network," which it says will connect job applicants directly to BLM and other activist organizations.
Longtime charity expert Doug White said it's a red flag that BLM won't answer basic questions about its finances or leadership structure.
"Sixty million dollars is not chump change," White said. "What BLM does is of tremendous social importance. That they won't give an honest or complete or straightforward answer in regards to its leadership is a concern. Not only do they not have an executive director right now, we think, but they also don't want to tell you how the organization is being run."
BLM was not a charity in its own right for much of 2020, a year in which it received a windfall of cash from big corporations and individual donors spurred by the police killing of George Floyd and the nationwide riots that followed. Rather, BLM spent most of the year essentially borrowing the charitable status of two other California-based charities, Thousand Currents and the Tides Foundation , which served as BLM's fiscal sponsors.
But the IRS granted BLM tax-exempt status in December 2020, enabling the group to operate as a charity independent of its former fiscal sponsors. And Thousand Currents reported in its most recent audited financial statements that it transferred $66.5 million directly into BLM's coffers in October 2020.
Cullors signed the asset transfer on behalf of BLM on Sept. 16, 2020, according to a copy of the agreement provided to the Washington Examiner by the California Office of the Attorney General.
BLM published a report last February saying it incurred $8.4 million in operating expenses in 2020 and that it closed out the year with $60 million under its control.
But BLM reported to the IRS in August 2020 that it expected to incur precisely $12,706,366 in "Professional Fees" expenditures during the same calendar year, a figure $4.3 million higher than the top-line annual spending figure it later reported to the public in February.
Kamenar said his watchdog group believes there should be a "full audit" of BLM to clear up the spending discrepancy.
"Bottom line: Lot of questionable financial activity, organizational structure, location of the books, etc. that call for a full investigation," Kamenar said.
Data that should be contained within BLM's Form 990 tax return for 2020, which was due to the IRS in November, would help clear up the organization's $4.3 million spending discrepancy.
On Tuesday, a Washington Examiner reporter attempted to request BLM's 2020 Form 990 in person at the charity's office in Los Angeles, which the group disclosed as the location its books are stored in previous filings submitted to the IRS, only to be told by a security guard that there has never been a BLM office at the location.
An unidentified BLM spokesperson informed the Washington Examiner on Thursday that the group does not currently maintain a "permanent office" and offered to mail a copy of its 990 within two weeks.
Alan Dye, a partner at Webster, Chamberlain & Bean who specializes in nonprofit law, told the Washington Examiner that charities that don't submit their Form 990s on time could face fines from the IRS and some state-level charity oversight agencies.
Styron, the CharityWatch executive director, said Form 990s are matters of public record and that BLM should have completed its 2020 form by now.
"Irrespective of where any person falls on the political spectrum or what their position is on any social justice issue, hopefully, we can all agree that tax-subsidized public charities have an ethical responsibility to be transparent with the public about how they are operating and how the donations they receive are being used," Styron said. "The amount of money involved here is not insignificant."
Oh, I know....
Some hate the truth!
The Washington Examiner is NOT a credible link.
"Oh, I know....
Some hate the truth!"
That's not something provided here.
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Same deal - not to be found here.
Black Lives Matter's finances deserve the scrutiny they're finally getting (yahoo.com)
Black Lives Matter's finances deserve the scrutiny they're finally getting (msn.com)
Look at post 4.2.3, 4.2.5, 4.2.11
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Does the link work for you? (Why would you question me about that, Vic?) It did not work for Hallux either, obviously (see comment).
Other links have been provided, moving on!
What can I say: Don't post invalid links-unless you have a 'fan-base' to support the error?
Links provided, moving on!
"Team Texan1211" delivers! Just for information: I don't defend the indefensible. If any BLM official or participant is stupid enough to fall into the propaganda mill of some conservatives, because of theft—take them to court and let the 'chips' fall where they may.
Hilrarious you attempt to link conservatives with greedy BLM thieves!
IGNORED.
You shouldn't ignore the truth!
Let it go, Texan1211. I have given you everything you qualify to get in this discussion. Please learn when it is appropriate to play nice with frenemies.
Just as team liberal laziness fails - yet again.
Just like your failure to link conservatives with the greedy BLM thieves.
Doesn't mean they will read any of them. After all, this is a group that the left supported. God forbid they hear and acknowledge the truth of what they support.
No. Not at all. Never.
Deflective fluffery.
if you consider deflection everything, well, hurrah!
Then you do the research. It's simple.
More than I've seen from you.
I know. You can give them links and they simply pretend they don't exist.
While demanding proof, of course!
It's crazy!
What exactly are you defending, Jeremy? Texan1211's failed link? Talk about time-consuming nonsense—this! Texan1211 makes a mistake in linking. . . and 'missile volleys' start firing at those who question?
When the court decides this and should these people be found guilty, then yes, they stupidly fell into the 'trenches' laid on the narrow sides surrounding the road they traverse. In those trenches are propagandists (like alligators), willing to snap and gnaw on their flawed characters and errors in judgement indefinitely. We all know this. The thing is these officials should have known better and thus 'do' better!
Okay, the link failed. Now you have been given new links. Yet you insist on keeping up this tiresome tirade.
Let. It. Go. You're out of step with the comments. (Hint: The comments are overlapping. It's an easy thing to understand for those willing to understand.)
It is also easy when to see when people continue to complain about a link when others have been provided, and what a deflection ALL of this is.
And it's also easy to see that you are doing your due diligence to dilute "the message" of the article. Nice work. Talk about killing the 'thunder.'
Perhaps in your mind, but not in reality.
I'm calling your out for your, either ignorance or unwillingness to do a simple google search. You called him out on ONE link that the source took down but didn't do a single bit of research on your own.
Save it, Jeremy. Ridiculous. Texan1211 makes a mistake in linking to a down site and like a good "whatever" you troll those who point it out. Disgusting. So many words expressed about 'nothing.' Good bye!
I "troll" those unwilling or lacking knowledge of how to look it up themselves. Don't get all pissy because you are one of them.
Save it, Jeremy Retired In NC. I am trying to bow out gracefully.
Why are STILL at this when other links have been posted??
Because the initial "you link is dead" was supposed to some kind of victory but it fell short when he was called out for not doing anything productive.
Is THAT what you are doing?
I won't troll you. Bye Jeremy. Have at it.
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So... Blm organizers DO get prosecuted. Apparently the DOJ isn't just picking on the Jan. 6 terrorists after all.
It is the whole barrel. I thought you were "well read?"
Well enough read not to rely on reviews by others to pretend I am.
If she and hubbie did it, then the courts will find this out and act accordingly. Do the crime: face judgement.
As for the so-called, "color-blind protectors" of wealth and privileges who continue to deliver and remark on the failures of black Americans to meet their "high standards"—the point of social justice is defense of the voiceless poor, a helper to those without influence, power, or proper wealth. In the bible - a champion of the poor, widow, and fatherless, An enabler for right and justice. Oh, and speaking up for the poor immigrant. To name just a few of its values.
Of course to the smug 'warriors,' who defend the rich and powerful without regards to wholesome principles, SJWs are to be mocked, diminished, and 'spat upon'—in discussion.
This kind of fraud is stupid, but common as fleas...
This does not implicate BLM as a movement unless all the other churchs or nonprofit (Tea Party) in any way associated with these kinds of crimes are culpable.
Still, not as bad as priests and nuns raping children.
DEEEEEEflection
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They have a couple of instances of irregularities yet they allegedly have a 'proven history of financial irregularities'
If that was true - we'd see endless reports of that here.
Evidence has been provided in links you won't read.
I can lead a horse to water but I can't make him drink.
A few instances doesn't indicate a 'proven history of financial irregularities'
BLM has a proven history of financial irregularities.
The same as many many members of pretty much all churches and civic organizations, especially of fundamentalist churches, The Tea Party and the damn gop! So What?
And today's gop/gqp/republicans/alleged conservatives supporting #45
Deflection noted, sir.
Again.
I realize I may be the only guy here from MA, but would anyone else like to try and answer Carr's questions?
I know why they spent the money on themselves, they just didn't want to waste it. Who's the idiot that came up with the bright idea to give at risk youth a vacation from their violence riddled neighborhoods of Boston by sending them to the violence riddled neighborhoods of Philly. Don't these morons know that the Saco River in New Hampshire is two hours from Boston, a few days of canoeing and camping on the Saco sounds like a better plan than a trip to Philly not to mention they could take twice as many kids for the same price.
Gotta wonder why so many people fall into this sort of thing. Surely they've seen the news reports of all those who did the same thing and got caught. Makes me wonder if I would do any better.
It's falling into temptation, or (if she and hubbie have a plausible explanation) ignorance of how to read and understand those documents they sign financial terms and 'regulations' which can some times be an ambiguous 'trap' in themselves. You almost need a staff lawyer to keep up with government modifications and "supercedings" which can be 'rampant.' Again, assuming it is not just old fashion theft or yielding to temptation. Many poor and 'ordinary' people have never seen the money that the government can deliver when it wants to do so into their hands, and its just too much for them to 'contain' themselves. Also, non-profits are not as easy to 'operate' as one thinks. There is oversight, even when it appears no one is doing proper oversight!
Of course, if it is just bad people doing bad things, then these people like anybody else need to be dealt with appropriately in a court of law.
So it is just a moral failure on their part.
Could be. I can't deny it could be a "moral failure." The couple is in court and the lawyer
in the article says,
" We remain fully confident Monica will be vindicated when a complete factual record emerges," the lawyer added. "
( Obvious omission of "hubbie" there.) Therefore, we are 'stuck' to discover what presentation on Monica's behalf will be offered/delivered to the court.
Lawyers are PAID to say that kind of stuff.
Seems like a strong case against them, since they were investigated and then arrested.
Well, clearly I won't be able to 'out-discuss' you over what is speculation until the lawyer makes his argument before a judge and jury. As for my part, I will refrain from going beyond what is factually presented up to this point. Innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. (The saying goes!)
Obviously, but it always makes me wonder. Did they start off as crooks or did they fall into moral failure? Assuming they're guilty, of course. I can't imagine doing it myself, but the prevalence of such crimes makes me wonder. I remember when I sold chocolate bars door to door for the Catholic school I attended when I was a kid. I ate a lot of those bars myself and then had to figure out how to pay for them after the fact. Same sort of thing?
I think the amounts of money involved here makes it a serious issue. The utter disregard for the organization they were supposed to be leading doesn't speak well for them.
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