Joanna Leigh, a Jamaica Plain resident, pled guilty Nov. 13 to several charges relating to her falsely claiming to be a victim of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings, which led to her receiving nearly $40,000 in cash and benefits, according to a press release from the Suffolk County District Attorney’s (DA) Office.
Leigh admitted to five counts of larceny over $250 by false pretenses and one count of making a false claim to a government agency. The judge in the case imposed one year in a house of correction, suspended for a three-year probationary period. Leigh must pay full restitution, perform 300 hours of community service, and undergo a mental health evaluation.
“This defendant exploited the compassion of people and agencies who wanted to help those in need,” said Suffolk County DA Dan Conley, according to the press release. “Every dollar she received was stolen from someone who truly deserved it.”