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Report: NJ Couple And Homeless Vet Made Up Feel-Good GoFundMe Story That Raised $400K
By
Jen Chung
Published Nov 15, 2018
Modified Nov 15, 2018
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By
Jen Chung
Published Nov 15, 2018
Modified Nov 15, 2018
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The heartwarming story about the homeless man that gave his last $20 to a New Jersey woman who ran out of gas on I-95—which raised $401,921 for him through a GoFundMe set up by the woman and her boyfriend—turned sour when it emerged that the couple had apparently been keeping funds from the homeless good Samaritan and spent it all on themselves. Now the story has another twist: NBC 10 says that the couple and homeless man concocted the story together, and it's believed the trio will be charged with conspiracy and theft by deception.
Last year, Katelyn McClure recounted on GoFundme about being stranded on the highway. "That’s when I met Johnny," she wrote. "Johnny sits on the side of the road every day, holding a sign. He saw me pull over and knew something was wrong. He told me to get back in the car and lock the doors. A few minutes later, he comes back with a red gas can. Using his last 20 dollars to make sure I could get home safe."
After that, McClure said she repaid him, plus would stop by to give him a few dollars or winter gear, "I wish that I could do more for this selfless man, who went out of his way just to help me that day. He is such a great guy, and talking to him each time I see him makes me want to help him more and more." So she launched the fundraising campaign, which went viral after a local NJ paper wrote about it. McClure, her boyfriend Mark D'Amico, and Bobbitt gave interviews about "paying it forward" and Bobbitt's future.
This past summer, Philadelphia news outlets reported that Bobbitt was homeless once again, and that he was worried that McClure and D'Amico were funding their suddenly lavish lifestyle with the GoFundMe money. The couple, in turn, claimed that they had to ration the money so Bobbitt wouldn't spend it on drugs and insisted they were innocent.
The authorities searched their house, and their lawyer said he thought the couple would be indicted. GoFundMe even promised that Bobbitt would get all the funds.
A source told NBC 10 that McClure and D'Amico turned themselves into prosecutors on Wednesday, while Bobbitt's whereabouts are unclear. Update: Bobbitt was arrested in Philadelphia on Wednesday night.
The station also reports, "A complaint obtained by NBC10 alleges that the three conspired with one another to make up a false story in order to raise more than $400,000. Investigators say the three deliberately prevented donors for their GoFundMe campaign from gaining information 'that would affect their judgment about solicited contribution to that fundraising effort.'"
The Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office is expected to make an announcement today.
Tagged
gofundme
homeless
johnny bobbitt
katelyn mcclure
mark d'amico
scam
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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