Man Who Faked Boston Marathon Claim Sues

A man charged with trying to bilk the Boston Marathon bombing victims’ fund out of more than $2 million has filed a federal lawsuit claiming state police violated his constitutional rights when they arrested him.

The Boston Herald reports that Branden Mattier alleges police misconduct and is seeking $100,000 in damages.

Prosecutors say the 23-year-old Mattier filed a claim with The One Fund using the name of a dead aunt who he reported lost both legs in the attack. He was arrested when he allegedly accepted a fake check from an undercover state trooper. He has pleaded not guilty.

The defendants are the state police and a trooper assigned to the attorney general’s office.

An attorney general’s spokesman had no comment.

A working phone number for Mattier, who’s representing himself, couldn’t be found.