SOUTH JERSEY

Charges filed in Johnny Bobbit GoFundMe case: What we know

Cherry Hill Courier-Post

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST DETAILS ABOUT CHARGES FILED IN THE JOHNNY BOBBITT GOFUNDME CASE

MOUNT HOLLY – Law enforcement authorities on Thursday announced criminal charges against South Jersey couple who started a GoFundMe campaign for a homeless veteran they claimed was a good Samaritan.

Mark D'Amico and his girlfriend Katelyn McClure, both of Florence, were charged with theft by deception and conspiracy to commit theft by deception. The homeless man, Johnny Bobbitt Jr., was charged with the same offense.

Here’s what we know about the case:

How did Mark D’Amico and Katelyn McClure meet the homeless Samaritan?

In this Nov. 17, 2017, file photo, Johnny Bobbitt Jr., left, Kate McClure, right, and McClure's boyfriend Mark D'Amico pose at a Citgo station in Philadelphia.

The three defendants and the Burlington County Prosecutor's disagree on how they became acquainted.

According to the trio, McClure ran out of gas while on an Interstate 295 exit ramp in Philadelphia in October 2017.

Bobbitt, a homeless veteran living in the city, walked to a gas station and used his last $20 to buy fuel for McClure so she could get back on the road, they said.

That's a lie, prosecutors say. Authorities allege the tale of a stranded motorist is pure fiction.

Prosecutor Scott Coffina said the couple they had become acquainted with him during their frequent trips to a local casino.

What happened next?

In this Aug. 27, 2018 photo released by NBC, Mark D'Amico, left, and Kate McClure speak with host Megyn Kelly on "Megyn Kelly Today," in New York. D'Amico and McClure, who set up a  GoFundMe page for homeless man Johnny Bobbitt, are accused in a lawsuit brought by Bobbitt of mismanaging donations. McClure set the page up to give back to Bobbitt, who helped her when she ran out of gas on an Interstate 95 exit ramp late one night. It raised more than $400,000 from more than 14,000 people.  (Nathan Congleton/NBC via AP)

McClure and D’Amico said they returned to Philadelphia multiple times to give money, food and water to Bobbitt to show their appreciation.

They then set up a GoFundMe crowdfunding campaign with a goal of raising $10,000 to help Bobbitt turn his life around. Coffina said the couple had met Bobbitt at the casino more than a month before the GoFundMe donations were first sought.

The story of Bobbitt’s good deed went viral as they appeared on shows like “Good Morning America” and were interviewed by the BBC.

In all, more than 14,000 donors contributed nearly $403,000 to the GoFundMe campaign to help Bobbitt.

How did Johnny Bobbitt’s life change?

This photo taken Aug. 15, 2018, shows Johnny Bobbitt Jr. Kate McClure and Mark D'Amico, who raised more than $400,000 for Bobbitt Jr., a homeless man after he used his last $20 to fill up the gas tank of a stranded motorist in Philadelphia must now turn over what’s left of the cash. A New Jersey judge issued the order Thursday, Aug. 30,  during a hearing on the lawsuit brought by Bobbitt, who worries D'Amico and McClure have mismanaged a large part of the donations raised for him on GoFundMe. The couple deny those claims, saying they're wary of giving Bobbitt large sums because they fear he would buy drugs.  (David Swanson /The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP)

In April, Bobbitt said he continued to struggle with drug addiction and even used "a small amount" of the donated money to buy heroin and opioids. But he said he went to rehab and was clean again.

McClure and D'Amico said they were rationing the money they gave Bobbitt for daily living.

"I don't want him to do anything stupid," D'Amico said in April. "He's a drug addict. That's like me handing him a loaded gun. He has to do what he has to do to get his life together."

Bobbitt said that instead of a house, he bought a new SolAire camper, which was parked on land owned by McClure's family. He said he also got a truck, but it needed a filter and wasn’t running. The camper and the truck were registered in McClure's name, D'Amico said.

What went wrong?

Their relationship soured this past summer in a very public way.

Bobbitt became homeless again after D'Amico told him in June that he had to leave the property.

In August, Bobbitt filed a lawsuit in state Superior Court alleging D’Amico and McClure mismanaged much of the donations. The couple denied the claims.

According to the prosecutor's office, Bobbitt filed his civil suit "once he realized the money had been squandered."

Attorney Christopher Fallon says this printout shows a screenshot of text messages sent Aug. 27 from Mark D'Amico to Johnny Bobbitt Jr.

What happened to the money?

That’s not clear.

McClure and D'Amico have claimed they spent roughly $200,000 on Bobbitt for the trailer and other living expenses, including money that he gave away to family. Bobbitt claims he received only $75,000 in cash and the value of the truck and camper.

An attorney for Bobbitt said there was more than $150,000 in donations left, but later said he was informed by the couple’s attorney that all of the money actually is gone. The couple have not testified in court about where the money is or went.

A judge directed the couple to provide sworn statements about how they’ve handled the money, but those depositions were put on hold amid the launch of a criminal investigation.

The prosecutor's office says D'Amico and McClure spent much of the money on things such as a BMW, a New Year's trip to Las Vegas, and high-end handbags. More than $85,000 was withdrawn in the "immediate vicinity" of casinos, the prosecutor's office said.

GoFundMe released a statement Thursday saying people who contributed to the campaign to help Bobbitt will get their money back.

"All donors who contributed to this GoFundMe campaign will receive a full refund. GoFundMe always fully protects donors, which is why we have a comprehensive refund policy in place," the statement said. "GoFundMe will process all refunds in the coming days. While this type of behavior by an individual is extremely rare, it's unacceptable and clearly it has consequences. Committing fraud, whether it takes place on or offline is against the law. We are fully cooperating and assisting law enforcement officials to recover every dollar withdrawn by Ms. McClure and Mr. D'Amico."

What are authorities doing about all of this?

A “criminal investigation” into the situation has been underway since at least September, the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office confirmed.

This photo taken Aug. 15, 2018, shows Johnny Bobbitt Jr.  Kate McClure and Mark D'Amico, who raised more than $400,000 for Bobbitt Jr., a homeless man after he used his last $20 to fill up the gas tank of a stranded motorist in Philadelphia must now turn over what’s left of the cash. A New Jersey judge issued the order Thursday, Aug. 30,  during a hearing on the lawsuit brought by Bobbitt, who worries D'Amico and McClure have mismanaged a large part of the donations raised for him on GoFundMe. The couple deny those claims, saying they're wary of giving Bobbitt large sums because they fear he would buy drugs (David Swanson /The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP)

In September, authorities executed a search warrant at the couple’s Cedar Lane Extension home. They confiscated a vehicle, jewelry and documents, according to court papers.

On Thursday, Nov. 15, the prosecutor's office announced the criminal charges against D'Amico, McClure and Bobbitt. The next step is for the case to be prepared for a Superior Court grand jury seated in Mount Holly, according to the prosecutor's office.