Jessica Leslie, a 34-year-old former grand juror from Dracut, pleaded guilty to a felony count of criminal contempt in federal court on August 5, 2025, for leaking witness information related to two grand jury cases.

Leslie disclosed sealed information, including the identities of witnesses and details of their testimonies, to unauthorized individuals between August 11, 2022, and March 4, 2024.

Federal prosecutors did not disclose how they became aware of the leaks, but reports indicate that authorities were monitoring social media and communications during the high-profile case.

The investigation into the leaks was triggered when another individual posted details about a sealed federal indictment on social media on January 26, 2024.

Leslie served on the grand jury that investigated the state's handling of the Karen Read case, as well as an unrelated state police case.

In June 2025, Karen Read was acquitted of serious charges related to the 2022 death of her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O'Keefe, after two trials.

The U.S. Attorney's Office has not confirmed if Leslie's grand jury service was related to the high-profile Karen Read case, though reports suggest a connection.

Leslie was part of the grand jury that also investigated the death of Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe, which is linked to the acquittal of Karen Read for murder and manslaughter charges.

Leslie was charged with criminal contempt, which carries a potential penalty of jail time and a fine up to $250,000, but was sentenced to one day of imprisonment already served, 24 months of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.

Leslie is scheduled to appear before a judge for sentencing on September 26, 2025.

Reports indicate that Leslie had a friendship with the person who posted the information and communicated details about the grand jury's proceedings through text messages.

The prosecution indicated that a previous federal investigation into the handling of John O'Keefe's death was officially closed ahead of the upcoming trial for the defendant in the Karen Read case.