AG: Boston Man Filed False Marathon Bombing Victim Claim To One Fund
BOSTON (CBS) – A 22-year-old Boston man is facing charges after officials say he submitted a false claim to The One Fund Boston worth $2.195 million.
Attorney General Martha Coakley says Branden Mattier was arrested at his home in the South End on Tuesday when an undercover state trooper handed him a fake check for the full amount.
Mattier allegedly submitted the false claim on behalf of his aunt, Onevia Bradley, who has been dead for ten years. Mattier claimed his aunt had lost both of her legs in the Boston Marathon bombings.
The Attorney General's office says Mattier sent in a claim form along with a letter from Boston Medical Center stating his aunt was a double amputee. The letter was dated May 2. Twenty-seven days later, Mattier reportedly sent an email to The One Fund asking if his aunt could make a claim as a double amputee if the amputation had not yet taken place.
The One Fund referred the claim to the Attorney General's office.
"The file looked a little bit unusual to us and we forwarded it to the Attorney General's office and they took it from there," The One Fund Deputy Administrator Camille Biros said.
Mattier is charged with Attempted Larceny over $250 and Identity Theft.
"We allege that this defendant attempted to defraud The One Fund of more than $2 million," Attorney General Martha Coakley said in a statement. "He sought to take these funds away from real victims of the Marathon attack and from the thousands of people who had so generously given to help those who truly need it."
"For someone to even try and attempt to steal that from us, that's just outrageous," said Mery Daniel who lost a leg in the bombings.
Donate: Mery Daniel's Fund
She says it's more than a scam, but an insult to the city of Boston.
"Not only stealing from us but stealing from the good people, the generous people who paid this money and I would say that it is very hurtful," said Daniel.
So far this is the only scam The One Fund has discovered.
