Man Arrested After Filing False Claim to One Fund Using Dead Aunt's Name

By David Ertischek

A South End man allegedly submitted a $2.195 million claim to the One Fund Boston, saying his dead aunt - who's been dead for more than 10 years - suffered double amputations from the Boston Marathon bombings. 

“We allege that this defendant attempted to defraud The One Fund of more than $2 million,” said Coakley. “Because every dollar was allocated to victims, 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. We commend The One Fund for uncovering this and for referring it to our office for further investigation.”

One Fund Boston administrators referred the matter to the AG’s office in June after the claim submitted by Mattier on behalf of his aunt, Onevia Bradley, was false. 

The AG’s investigation revealed that on May 7, Mattier attended one of the two Town Hall meeting at the Boston Copley Public Library on behalf of his supposedly injured aunt. On May 29 he allegedly emailed One Fund administrators asking if his aunt could make a claim as a double amputee if the amputation was expected to be performed in the future. In June, The One Fund received Mattier’s claim form along with a letter allegedly from the chief of trauma services at the Boston Medical Center affirming his aunt as a double amputee. The letter was dated May 2, a full 27 days before Mattier’s email, according to the AG's investigation.

But according to Boston Medical Center officials, Mattier’s aunt never received treatment at the hospital in connection with the Boston Marathon bombing, and the letter did not originate from the trauma center. The investigation further revealed through public records that Onevia Bradley had actually died more than 10 years ago before the bombings.

Mattier allegedly signed for a letter on July 1 stating his aunt had been awarded $2.195 million from the One Fund, saying Mattier would receive the check by courier on Tuesday morning. State police arrested Mattier on July 2 after delivering the "simulated check."