Evans On Alleged One Fund Scam: 'It's A Sad Day'
BOSTON (CBS) – The One Fund released a statement Friday thanking police for helping "protect the goodness and generosity" of donors after a Jamaica Plain woman was indicated for fraudulently claiming to be a Boston Marathon bombing victim.
Investigators said Joanna Leigh received nearly $40,000 in benefits following the April 2013 bombings, including money from the One Fund and a local school.
Leigh was arrested and charged with five counts of larceny over $250 by false pretense. She also faces one count of making a false claim to a government agency.
On Friday, One Fund Boston released a statement related to Leigh's arrest.
The One Fund Boston, established in the days following the 2013 Marathon tragedy, distributed nearly $80 million in cash gifts to over 200 individuals and victims' families. The One Fund Boston takes the view that the goodness of people to help one another in times of crisis should remain our lasting impression following the evil acts from that day two years ago. We appreciate the hard work and dedication of our law enforcement community in helping The One Fund protect the goodness and generosity of the more than 200,000 donors.
Prosecutors say evidence suggests Leigh received free dermatology services that were normally offered free of cost to bombing victims. Leigh, however, used the treatments for facial redness, which she suffered from before the bombings.
Boston Police Commissioner William Evans told WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Karen Twomey it was disturbing to learn of someone allegedly scamming the charity.
"It's a sad day that someone would take advantage of people's kind hearts and all the outreach that helped those victims," Evans said.
Leigh was interviewed in 2014 by WBZ-TV after her service dog ran away from her Jamaica Plain home.
The Jamaica Plain resident is scheduled to be arraigned on Monday.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Karen Twomey reports