Federal prosecutors are examining whether leaders in and around the Black Lives Matter movement misled donors during the historic 2020 fundraising surge, according to reporting by the Associated Press. The inquiry has included subpoenas and at least one search warrant, but no charges have been filed. The Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation says it is not a target of any federal criminal investigation and maintains it remains committed to transparency.
The AP reporting arrives after years of scrutiny of how major BLM-branded charities handled tens of millions of dollars raised amid nationwide demonstrations following the killing of George Floyd. Questions intensified in 2022 when it emerged that BLMGNF had purchased a Los Angeles property for about $6 million in 2020, which the foundation said would support programming and content creation. While the purchase drew criticism, it did not lead to criminal charges.
Two high-profile criminal cases since 2020 involved individuals who used BLM branding or were aligned with BLM causes but were not part of BLMGNF. In Ohio, Sir Maejor Page (also known as Tyree Conyers-Page) was convicted of wire fraud and money laundering for defrauding donors to “Black Lives Matter of Greater Atlanta” and was sentenced to 42 months in prison on October 3, 2024. Prosecutors said he raised more than $450,000 through online appeals and spent the money on personal expenses, including travel and a home purchase.
In Massachusetts, Boston activist Monica Cannon-Grant pleaded guilty in federal court on September 22, 2025, to multiple fraud and tax charges tied to her nonprofit Violence in Boston. Sentencing is scheduled for January 29, 2026. Authorities said donor funds and pandemic relief money were misused for personal expenses. Her organization was local and not part of BLMGNF.
BLMGNF itself has primarily faced administrative and civil matters. In early 2022, state charity regulators in California and Washington issued delinquency or cease-solicitation notices over missing filings, prompting the foundation to pause online fundraising until paperwork was addressed—actions that reflect compliance enforcement rather than criminal findings.
A civil lawsuit filed in Los Angeles by BLM Grassroots in 2022 accused BLMGNF and a consultant of mismanaging funds. The foundation denied wrongdoing and cited an independent review; in June 2023 a judge dismissed the case, ending those claims.
Taken together, the public record shows two notable federal criminal cases involving figures who used BLM branding or were BLM-aligned, both ending in a conviction or a guilty plea, while the flagship BLMGNF organization has faced transparency controversies and filing lapses but no criminal charges. The current Justice Department probe could clarify donor stewardship questions that arose during and after 2020, or it could conclude without charges. Until prosecutors act, the status of the federal inquiry remains unresolved.
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