Violence In Boston Nonprofit Shuts Down Amid Fraud Charges

BOSTON — The nonprofit whose founders are accused of defrauding donors and committing unemployment fraud shut down indefinitely Sunday night.

Violence in Boston was a nonprofit originally intended to help members of the Boston community experiencing hardships, backed by activist Monica Cannon-Grant, who made headlines by organizing major demonstrations in Massachusetts following the deaths of George Floyd and Hopkinton teen Mikayla Miller.

The decision to shut down the organization was revealed in a statement posted on the charity’s website and Cannon-Grant's Facebook page.

In March, Cannon-Grant, 41, and her husband, Clark Grant, 38, pleaded not guilty to charges that she misused donations intended for her nonprofit. Federal prosecutors say the couple spent public and private donations to Violence In Boston – including grants from the state District Attorney's Office, a Cambridge Black Lives Matter chapter, and a major department store chain – on themselves.

The couple had been charged in an 18-count indictment earlier this year, and the U.S. Attorney's office said the couple used grant and donation money to pay for "hotel reservations, groceries, gas, car rentals, auto repairs, Uber rides, restaurants, food deliveries, nail salons, and personal travel," among other expenses. The U.S. Attorney's office also claims the couple collected about $100,000 in illegal unemployment benefits.

"I can't speak on whether the decision to desolve the organization was an easy one to make, as
this decision was made by the Violence in Boston board of directors," Cannon-Grant posted to her Facebook page. "What I can say with confidence is that I fought, and community members fought to retain our services at Violence in Boston, which included our food pantry and emergency and short-term housing for victims of violence. I have served this community with my whole heart and I deeply regret the loss of a community resource during a time when people are still struggling."

Boston Magazine named Cannon-Grant the No. 78 most powerful person in the city last spring, underscoring her rising political power in the Boston area.

Related

• Violence In Boston Fraud Began With $10K Gift To Feed Kids: Feds
• Monica Cannon-Grant, Husband Plead Not Guilty: What To Know
• Violence In Boston Founder Cannon-Grant Charged With Fraud: Feds