A New Jersey couple and a homeless man are facing charges of criminal conspiracy after raising close to $400,000 in a viral GoFundMe campaign aimed at helping the vagrant start a new life. It turns out the homeless man was in on the ruse all along, however, according to authorities.
Prosecutors say Kate McClure and Mark D’Amico conspired with Johnny Bobbitt to pull off the grand get-rich-quick scheme in 2017, NBC Philadelphia reported. McClure and D’Amico turned themselves into authorities Wednesday while Bobbitt, 35, was arrested by police after being considered “a fugitive of justice from Burlington County relating to the GoFundMe incident,” police said.
Johnny Bobbitt, Mark D’Amico and Kate McClure will all face charges for their role in the GoFundMe scam. (Image courtesy of The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP file)
A criminal complaint obtained by the news station revealed that all three worked together to make up the false story, ultimately raising hundreds of thousands of dollars on theirs and Bobbitt’s behalf. Investigators said the trio purposely prevented donors of their GoFundMe campaign from getting information that might “affect their judgment about solicited contribution to that fundraising effort.”
McClure, D’Amico and Bobbit shot to fame last year after launching a crowdfunding page claiming Bobbitt had lent his last $20 to McClure so she could fill her empty gas tank after her car broke down along I-95 in Philadelphia. It wasn’t long before the charity campaign exploded, raking in more than $400,000 from 14,000 donors in a matter of weeks.
“It has changed my entire outlook about people, my outlook about people has skyrocketed,” McClure said at the time.
Things started to unravel in August, however, after Bobbitt sued the couple for allegedly withholding the funds and treating it like a “personal piggy bank” to “support a lifestyle they couldn’t otherwise afford.” Bobbitt’s lawyer said Bobbitt had received only about $75,000 while a couple for the lawyer said he received close to $200,000.
McClure and D’Amico denied any wrongdoing and accused Bobbit of blowing $25,000 on drugs in less than two weeks, NBC Philadelphia reported. The couple vowed not to hand over any more money until he got clean.
In September, police raided the couple’s Florence Township home where they confiscated a brand new BMW on a flatbed truck. McClure and D’Amico’s business financial statements, jewelry and cash were also seized in the raid.
The couple’s attorney said at the time that he expected they would both be indicted for their role in the elaborate ruse. However, a source familiar with the case said all three suspects will face charges for fabricating a story in order to raise money for themselves.
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