Boston marathon bomber Dzhokar Tsarnaev was ordered by a federal court to turn over the $1,400 in coronavirus relief funds he received, along with other money sent to him, to his victims as restitution.
Tsarnaev was found guilty of the bombing in 2015 and sentenced to death, which is being challenged in court, and ordered to pay more than $101 million in restitution.
But so far, he has paid only $2,203, court documents reveal.
Tsarnaev has $3,885.06 in his inmate account, funds that came from the COVID-19 relief check he received on June 22, 2021, as well as deposits from individuals and groups, including the Officer of Federal Defenders in New York.
Federal prosecutors say Tsarnaev has splurged on “gifts,” “support,” and “books” to his siblings — money that was supposed to be used to pay restitution.
“The United States submits that the requested relief is reasonable and appropriate in this instance, especially in light of the Defendant prioritizing payments to his siblings over the victims of his crimes,” the prosecutors argued.
Federal Judge George O’Toole, of the US District Court in Massachusetts, authorized the payment.
Tsarnaev and his brother, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, planted homemade pressure cooker bombs packed with ball bearings and nails near the marathon’s finish line on April 15, 2013, killing three and injuring hundreds, including 17 who lost limbs.
Days later, during a massive manhunt involving thousands of law enforcement officers, the brothers were spotted in nearby Watertown.
Tamerlan engaged police in a shootout and Dzhokar ran him over as he tried to flee in a car they had previously stolen.
Tamerlan died hours later.
Dzhokar was captured after being found hiding in a boat under a tarp.