Scamming BLM activist once named Bostonian of the Year ordered to pay back huge amount for ill-gotten gains

A Boston activist once celebrated for her role in social justice protests has been ordered to repay $224,000 after admitting to using nonprofit funds for personal expenses.

Monica Cannon-Grant, who previously received recognition as Bostonian of the Year, was directed by a judge this week to repay the money she improperly took from donors and government programs. The repayment order follows her January sentencing, which included four years of probation, six months of house arrest, and 100 hours of community service for wire fraud and tax-related offenses.

Prosecutors said Cannon-Grant and her husband, Clark Grant, raised money through their nonprofit organization, Violence in Boston (VIB), claiming the funds would support community efforts such as feeding children and organizing demonstrations related to police violence. Authorities later determined that a significant portion of the donations was instead used for personal expenses.

According to court records, the money paid for rent, car costs, shopping purchases, food delivery, nail salon visits, and even a summer trip to Maryland. Investigators also found that the couple received funds from charities and supporters under false pretenses, including $3,000 from a Black Lives Matter organization.

Cannon-Grant pleaded guilty in September to 18 charges, including wire fraud and filing false tax returns.

Judge Angel Kelley ruled that Cannon-Grant must repay $224,000, which includes about $180,000 taken from the Violence in Boston nonprofit as well as additional funds related to rental assistance and federal pandemic unemployment benefits.

The case marks a dramatic reversal for Cannon-Grant, who gained national attention during the 2020 protests that followed the killing of George Floyd. Her activism brought her several high-profile honors that year, including Boston Globe Magazine’s Bostonian of the Year and the Boston Celtics’ Heroes Among Us award.

Federal prosecutor Leah B. Foley said Cannon-Grant misused the trust placed in her by supporters. Prosecutors stated that while presenting herself as a legitimate nonprofit leader, she diverted donations for her own personal benefit.

Cannon-Grant was originally charged in 2022 along with her husband. Clark Grant died in a motorcycle crash in 2023.