GUILTY NJ - Homeless Veteran helps stranded motorist, Motorist keeps $400k of funding, Aug 2018 *Arrests*

[MicheleT]

GoFundMe gives $20K to homeless vet in money dispute, says it is working with authorities

The company has given the veteran money and is working with authorities.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Judge: Couple behind GoFundMe account must appear in court

Judge Paula Dow told the lawyer for Kate McClure and Mark D'Amico on Wednesday that she had a number of questions about the case and wanted to see the defendants herself. The couple also must give depositions about the money that was raised for Bobbitt.

The judge also ordered the attorneys for both the couple and Bobbitt to get their paperwork in order, and figure out the money trail to see who spent what on both sides

The couple claimed through their attorney they gave Bobbitt $200,000. Bobbitt pinned the figure at $75,000 in cash, goods and services.

He alleges the couple spent much of the donations on lavish trips, shopping sprees, gambling, and a used BMW.

McClure had no comment as she drove off in that BMW from her Florence Township property on Tuesday.

 

[JerseyGirl]

I moved this from News That Makes You Smile to .... Crimes in the News.

 

[JrzyGirl70]

Update

GoFundMe Gives Homeless Veteran $20,000 as Lawyers Fight Over $400,000 Raised for Him

 

[8countlife]

The couple probably had the best intentions at the beginning and then that pile of money was too hard to resist. I don’t doubt that they figured bobbit wouldn’t have the knowledge or devices on how to begin fighting for the money. They assumed he’d leave it behind without a fight. Good for him. I hope He has proper representation now to help him manage his money.

 

[Ray_of_hope]

Just read an article that said the homeless guy's lawyer got a call from their lawyer saying that there is no money left.

I hope they enjoy prison.

I'm just hoping they go to prison.

 

[PrairieWind]

The couple probably had the best intentions at the beginning and then that pile of money was too hard to resist. I don’t doubt that they figured bobbit wouldn’t have the knowledge or devices on how to begin fighting for the money. They assumed he’d leave it behind without a fight. Good for him. I hope He has proper representation now to help him manage his money.

I'm guess that is probably collect. They started the GoFundMe with good intentions. But somewhere along the line started helping themselves. They used his admission that he used some of the money for drugs as justification to withhold more. But they have no right to do that. They were not his guardians or trustees in anyway. I understand they didn't show up for the hearing today and their attorney tried to invoke their 5th amendment rights on their behalf. That was rejected by the judge. I imagine their bank records will be quickly subpoenaed. I doubt all that money is "gone." Some of it went to Bobbitt. The judge will need to figure out how much he already received to determine how much is missing. There seems to be a huge discrepancy in the amount given to him. But regardless, I doubt the couple spent the remainder. I bet a big amount of it is in cash somewhere. Regardless, one way or another, they are going to have to account for it.

 

[jjenny]

Wouldn't surprise me if they did spend it. The man half of the couple is reportedly a gambler, he even admitted to using $500 of the money and claimed he paid it back. But who is to say it was only $500? Also they took numerous vacations, helicopter trips. BMW was previously reported to be new, not used. Not sure what model they have, but those could be quite pricey.

 

[gregjrichards]

This story disgusts me and illustrates the serious problems with GoFundMe. Safeguards need to be put in place so money raised goes where it is supposed to.

 

[Satchie]

offers a guarantee that if donors feel their money was fraudulently used, they'll issue a refund. That implies they try hard to prevent fraud.

It was who gave the money to this couple, normally it should have gone to Bobbitt.

Typically when a campaign is created on behalf of another individual or organization, funds are collected, held, and then only transferred directly to the beneficiary of the campaign," the company said. "This is the standard process when a GoFundMe is created on behalf of another individual or a group of individuals. Normally, the campaign organizer would never touch money, but in this unique situation the campaign organizer was permitted to withdraw the funds. Regardless, we have taken steps to prevent this extremely unique situation from occurring again.”

How easy is it to use a viral crowdfunding campaign to steal people's money?

How naive to expect these people, who were themselves pretty broke, wouldn't go amok once they had access to $400,000. In no other circumstances would anyone be given that much money to spend 'on behalf' of someone else, with apparently no contract and no oversight required. I very much doubt the accountants at would allow random young people they'd met on a highway off ramp to manage 's bank accounts.

ETA: perhaps it was the prospect of more 'heart-warming' positive publicity that caused to hand over the money to these people. Well, now they've got their publicity.

 

[jjenny]

Their guarantee suggests organizer is supposed to deliver funds to the beneficiary.

"We honor the generosity of donors. If there is a campaign on your behalf and the organizer fails to deliver any of the funds, then we will donate the difference.*
https://www.gofundme.com/guarantee-refund-policy

 

[jjenny]

This story disgusts me and illustrates the serious problems with GoFundMe. Safeguards need to be put in place so money raised goes where it is supposed to.

If he got all the money, without oversight, it presumably still would have been a disaster, considering he is a drug addict.

 

[Hraefn]

If he got all the money, without oversight, it presumably still would have been a disaster, considering he is a drug addict.

Do we really know he is a drug addict? There may be sources out there and I welcome them. I have only seen the couple claim that so far though.

And honestly, it's his money regardless. If he got a few hundred thousand dollars and spent it all on drugs and was still on the streets and broke (or had overdosed), that's kind of up to him. It wasn't the couple's right to control the funds. People gave willingly to him because of his actions, the donors had every right to question whether he would use the funds on drugs or not and still chose to give.

I have been involved with recovery organizations for about 10 years and I will just say, I don't know a single drug addict who was using that would give $20 away to anyone. JMO.

 

[Savmom]

Police Raid Home

Couple quotes from the article:

Footage taken from the scene showed a shiny, black BMW car being towed away

Other videos showed D’Amico hitting golf balls off the lawn surrounding the home (while they are searching the home) and bags of items being loaded into a law enforcement vehicle.

In court, McClure and D'Amico's attorney, Ernest Badway, said about $200,000 had gone to Bobbitt, but Dow said Badway indicated he was "misadvised" by his clients and that later the court learned there was no money left. She said she wants them to appear in person. Neither the couple nor Bobbit was in court Wednesday.

 

[dixiegirl1035]

Here is the link. No money remains, according to the lawyer for homeless man. All gone.
All GoFundMe money is gone, attorney for homeless man says

At link...

GoFundMe released a statement Tuesday that says any money that was misspent will be guaranteed by the company.

 

[Hraefn]

Police Raid Home

Couple quotes from the article:

Footage taken from the scene showed a shiny, black BMW car being towed away

Other videos showed D’Amico hitting golf balls off the lawn surrounding the home (while they are searching the home) and bags of items being loaded into a law enforcement vehicle.

In court, McClure and D'Amico's attorney, Ernest Badway, said about $200,000 had gone to Bobbitt, but Dow said Badway indicated he was "misadvised" by his clients and that later the court learned there was no money left. She said she wants them to appear in person. Neither the couple nor Bobbit was in court Wednesday.

TY for the link. The drug addiction is mentioned here.

Fallon said in court on Wednesday that Bobbitt is entering a 30-day residential treatment program. He has earlier said Bobbitt has a drug addiction.

Does anyone know who Fallon is? The article only mentions the name this one time, without identifying who it is.

 

[dixiegirl1035]

Update

GoFundMe Gives Homeless Veteran $20,000 as Lawyers Fight Over $400,000 Raised for Him

My guess is, the first 20,000 will go to the lawyer. The lawyers always get the money.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

I moved this from News That Makes You Smile to .... Crimes in the News.

Thank you so much. I noticed the smiling news category and understood why by the dating but I sure the heck wasn’t smiling. This homeless guy could have been my brother long ago. It makes me mad at gofundme and other sorry individuals who are already named here. Karma! May she roll on...

 

[dixiegirl1035]

TY for the link. The drug addiction is mentioned here.


Does anyone know who Fallon is? The article only mentions the name this one time, without identifying who it is.

Bobbitt atty....


An attorney for homeless man John Bobbitt Jr. says all the money raised in a GoFundMe project for his client, may be gone. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, attorney Chris Fallon held a conference call

Homeless man’s GoFundMe money may be completely gone, says attorney.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Due to the enormous public interest in this matter, I am confirming that a search warrant was executed early this morning by the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office and the Florence Township Police Department at the residence of Mark D'Amico and Katelyn McClure in connection with a criminal investigation into the Johnny Bobbitt matter," Burlington County Prosecutor Scott A. Coffina said in a statement.

"As of this time, there have been no charges filed. Further updates will be provided as circumstances warrant," Coffina said.

Police search home of GoFundMe couple in New Jersey

D'Amico was also at the home. He was swinging a golf club and playing fetch with a dog. A short time later, McClure got into a car and left the home, but she did not answer reporters' questions.

__

Judge Paula Dow ordered McClure and D'Amico appear in court next week. Dow told Badway that she had a number of questions about the case and wanted to see the defendants herself.

The couple also must give depositions about the money that was raised for Bobbitt.