Massachusetts woman on Karen Read federal grand jury charged, agrees to plead guilty, for allegedly sharing confidential details

BOSTON – A 34-year-old Massachusetts woman is facing charges for allegedly sharing confidential details from a federal grand jury proceeding with unauthorized parties.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Justice, Jessica M. Leslie was formally charged with one count of criminal contempt. She has agreed to enter a guilty plea and is set to appear initially in federal court in Boston at a future date, with no plea hearing yet scheduled.

Court documents allege that between August 11, 2022, and March 4, 2024, Leslie revealed protected information, such as the identities of grand jury witnesses, summaries of their testimonies, and other presented evidence, in breach of federal rules and a court directive.

According to the Boston Globe, Leslie was on the grand jury hearing evidence about the prosecution of Karen Read.

A conviction for criminal contempt could result in any length of imprisonment, up to five years of supervised release, and a maximum fine of $250,000. Sentencing would be determined by a federal judge, guided by U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and applicable laws.

The case was announced by U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne Paruti, who leads the Major Crimes Unit, is handling the prosecution.

Details in the charging documents are allegations only. The defendant remains presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.