Boston Woman Pleads Guilty to Scamming One Fund

By FRANK O’LAUGHLIN (Patch Staff)

A Jamaica Plain woman pled guilty Friday to charges she falsely claimed to be a victim of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings in order to get financial benefits.

Joanna Leigh, 41, pleaded guilty to charges of larceny and making false claims to a government agency. Judge Peter Krupp sentenced Leigh to one year in prison and suspended it for three years of probation. She was also ordered to pay full restitution.

Leigh lied about suffering a brain injury during the bombings, according to prosecutors. She then received nearly $40,000 from the One Fund Boston and other organizations, after making the false claims.

The One Fund was set up in the weeks following the bombings in order to support those most affected by the tragedy.

Additionally, prosecutors said Leigh asked the One Fund to be classified as a victim “most seriously” injured by the Boylston Street blasts, but according to prosecutors, evidence against her indicated she was on Fairfield Street at the time.

Leigh admitted guilt to the court, explaining she wrongly received $8,000 from the One Fund.

One Fund Boston President James Gallagher said Leigh carried out a “campaign to malign the charitable group” based on false claims, and that her actions “went far beyond the $8,000 she admits to stealing.” He also noted that the organization spent more time assisting Leigh than any other victim of the bombings.

“She was stupid in what she did but she never did anything in her whole life of a criminal nature,” Leigh’s defense team argued.

The prosecution recommended Leigh be sentenced to two to three years in state prison.

“Ms. Leigh saw an opportunity to take advantage of kind-hearted individuals who wanted to help those victims,” Boston Police Commissioner William Evans said.