Photo: Joe Lamberti/Courier Post-USA Today Network
The New Jersey woman who, with her boyfriend and a homeless man, allegedly scammed $400,000 from GoFundMe donors pleaded guilty Monday, according to multiple reports.
Prosecutors allege that McClure, 29, and her then boyfriend Mark D’Amicoconcocted a plan,along with homeless veteran Johnny Bobbitt, to spin a tale that Bobbitt had spent his last $20 to pay for gas for McClure after her car broke down on Interstate 95 in Philadelphia.
BCPO
Shortly after the GoFundMe page was set up, McClure allegedly sent a text to a friend, stating: “I had to make something up to make people feel bad,” according to thePhiladelphia Tribune.
Last year, the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office in New Jersey began investigating the feel-good campaign after Bobbitt sued the couple in August 2018, claiming he only received $75,000.
Bobbitt claimed he was homeless again after the couple took control of the money.
County prosecutor Scott Coffina said at a news conference that the campaign “was predicated on a lie.” The grouphad actually met at a Philadelphia casinoin October 2017 at least a month before the campaign began, he alleged.
Katelyn McClure.
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Gerrow could not be reached for comment. D’Amico’s attorney also could not be reached for comment.
As part of her plea, McClure has agreed to pay around $400,000 in restitution, the Post reports.
Last month, she plead guilty to conspiring to commit wire fraud in federal court.
Elizabeth Robertson/The Philadelphia Inquirer/AP
Bobbitt was sentenced to five years of probation, including inpatient drug treatment. As part of his plea, he also agreed to cooperate with prosecutors against the former couple, according to theMiami Herald.
Bobbitt’s attorney could not be reached for comment.
McClure is also expected to testify against D’Amico, the Courier Post reports.
source: people.com
