Boston Man Arraigned For Submitting False Claim to The One Fund

The One Fund referred the matter to Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office

Branden Mattier, 22, of the South End has been arraigned on charges that he submitted a false claim to The One Fund on behalf of his aunt, who has been deceased for a decade. Mattier was arrested earlier this month when an undercover policeman presented a simulated claim check to Mattier at his home in the amount of $2.195 million. He allegedly signed for a letter the day before stating that his aunt had been awarded the $2 million dollar claim. After accepting the check the next day, the State Police swooped in and arrested him

The Attorney General’s Office says that it was contacted last month by The One Fund regarding Mattier’s potentially false claim. Apparently, Mattier first attracted notice when he attended a May 7^th Town Hall meeting at the Boston Public Library on behalf of his aunt, Onevia Bradley. On May 29^th, Mattier followed up with an email to The One Fund requesting information on whether his aunt would be able to make a claim as a double amputee, particularly if the amputation was expected to be performed in the future.

Finally in June, Mattier submitted a claim form to The One Fund along with a forged letter from the Chief of Trauma Services at The Boston Medical Center affirming his aunt as a double amputee. Upon investigation, the AG determined that Mattier’s aunt had never receive treatment at the medical center in connection with The Boston Marathon bombing and that no letter had ever been sent from the trauma center concerning Mattier’s aunt. Further investigation revealed that the aunt, an Onevia Bradley, has been deceased for approximately 10 years.

Mattier, who has already been arraigned in Boston Municipal Court where he pleaded not guilty to charges of Attempted Larceny over $250 and Identity Theft, is being held on $30,000 cash bail. The AG’s office says that if the defendant makes bail he will be required to wear a GPS ankle bracelet and to forfeit his passport. Mattier’s next appearance in court is scheduled for August 2^nd.