MOUNT HOLLY, N.J.
Johnny Bobbitt stands in the courtroom during his sentencing hearing at Burlington County Superior Court in Mount Holly, N.J., Friday, April 12, 2019. Bobbitt, the homeless veteran who admitted to conspiring with a New Jersey couple in a GoFundMe scam that raised more than $400,000, was sentenced Friday to five years’ probation. (Tim Tai/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP, Pool)
MOUNT HOLLY, N.J. – A New Jersey woman pleaded guilty to her role in concocting a feel-good tale about a homeless man rescuing her from the side of a highway and scamming 14,000 donors out of $400,000 in GoFundMe contributions.
Katelyn McClure pleaded guilty in state Superior Court Monday to second-degree theft by deception under a plea agreement.
Prosecutors say McClure will serve four years in state prison and must repay the $400,000 under the deal. She must also testify against her former boyfriend and co-defendant Mark D’Amico.
McClure’s plea comes after Johnny Bobbitt was sentenced Friday to five years’ probation for his role in the scheme.
Prosecutors say the trio fabricated the 2017 story of Bobbitt rescuing McClure from the side of a Philadelphia highway to enrich themselves.
D’Amico has denied wrongdoing.
Source: Fox News National
MOUNT HOLLY, N.J. – The homeless veteran who admitted to conspiring with a New Jersey couple in a GoFundMe scam that raised more than $400,000 faces sentencing.
Johnny Bobbitt is scheduled to appear in court in southern New Jersey Friday morning.
He pleaded guilty last month to conspiracy to commit theft by deception and has been accepted into a drug program as part of his plea deal.
Prosecutors say Bobbitt and the couple made up a story in 2017 about him giving $20 to help Katelyn McClure when her car ran out of gas.
Bobbitt, McClure and McClure’s then-boyfriend, Mark D’Amico, garnered more than 14,000 GoFundMe donors.
Authorities began investigating last year after Bobbitt sued the couple for allegedly not giving him the money.
McClure has pleaded guilty to one federal count of wire fraud conspiracy.
Source: Fox News National
FILE – In this Dec. 14, 2018 file pool photo, Johnny Bobbitt stands during a hearing at Burlington County Courthouse in Mount Holly, N.J. Bobbitt, a homeless man charged with engaging in a GoFundMe scheme, pleaded guilty in federal court in in Camden, N.J., Wednesday, March 6, 2019, to conspiracy to commit money laundering. (David Swanson/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP, Pool, File)
MOUNT HOLLY, N.J. – A homeless man pleaded guilty Friday to a state charge in a GoFundMe scheme that prosecutors say brought in $400,000 with a made-up story about him aiding a stranded driver.
Thirty-six-year-old Johnny Bobbitt, of Philadelphia, pleaded guilty Friday in New Jersey Superior Court to conspiracy to commit theft by deception.
He faces five years of probation and was entered into the state’s drug court program for nonviolent offenders.
He had pleaded guilty Wednesday to a federal charge of conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carries up to 10 years.
Bobbitt conspired with 28-year-old Katelyn McClure, of Bordentown, New Jersey, and her then-boyfriend 39-year-old Mark D’Amico, of Florence, according to prosecutors. Authorities say they made up a story in 2017 about Bobbitt giving McClure $20 for gas when she was stranded along a Philadelphia highway.
The online campaign raised more than $400,000 from 14,000 donors, made international headlines and led to media appearances by the trio. But the feel-good-story was based on a lie, prosecutors said.
The couple claimed the cash would be donated to Bobbitt, but New Jersey authorities said the three split the money and spent lavishly, including on a BMW, designer bags, and trips to Las Vegas and elsewhere. GoFundMe has said it has refunded the donations.
Their relationship soured when Bobbitt sued the couple over what he said was their failure to turn money over to him.
New Jersey prosecutors said the suit led them to start an investigation.
McClure pleaded guilty to a federal charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud this week. She and D’Amico face state charges, as well.
D’Amico has denied wrongdoing.
Source: Fox News National
-
Pages
MAGA One Radio