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

[JerseyGirl]

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

The prosecutor’s office has scheduled a press conference for 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15, in Mount Holly; they “will announce developments” in the investigation. No information will be provided in advance of the press conference.

Johnny Bobbitt GoFundMe campaign dispute: Are criminal charges next?

 

[Elley Mae]

Wow, so this really was a hoax after all.....my Lord.

“The New Jersey couple who raised hundreds of thousands of dollars in a viral charity campaign for a homeless man were allegedly working with the vagrant as part of an elaborate ruse, according to a new report.”

“According a source who spoke to the news outlet, which said it had a copy of a criminal complaint, all three are expected to face charges of conspiracy and theft by deception for working together to create the ruse. The Burlington County Prosecutor’s office is expected to make an announcement in the case Thursday, according to multiple reports.”

https://nypost.com/2018/11/15/homel...e-controversy-allegedly-made-up-story-report/

Amazing.

Eta
Mark has a look about him that to me is not trustworthy.

 

[jjenny]

Gofundme money is TAXED if over a certain amount. Who assumed the tax burden here?

I don't think any of these people were concerned with things like that, do you?

 

[Gnatcatcher]

Where did you get that screenshot of the text?

 

[JerseyGirl]

Where did you get that screenshot of the text?

From the link I posted.

 

[K_Z]

Glad that more of these scams and frauds are being pursued for criminal charges. This particular scam seemed very suspicious to me from the start.

Unfortunately, online crowd sourcing has rapidly become an easy and popular platform for all kind of "scampaigns", including complex money laundering schemes, and simple fraud (like the Iowa woman who claimed her child had cancer to receive donations-- who was charged with child endangerment, but NOT fraud).

Iowa mom faked child’s terminal cancer so she could collect donations: cops - NY Daily News

Police: Mom lied about child's cancer, faces two charges

Whenever a "victim" has a high media profile, or a political role to play, and "suddenly" has a crowd sourced online fund promoted and filling up fast (particularly if it is being aggressively promoted by a high profile attorney for the "victim"), we should ALL have a high index of suspicion about fraud and money laundering.

These cunning and sophisticated fraudsters prey on naive people's sense of sympathy, or stoke manufactured "outrage" to rev up donations. Or set up the fund for diversion of $-- "laundering" it to conceal the source.

The product-development crowd sourcing sites are even more dubious, and the donor should do their due diligence. The recipient may have a great idea for a product or service, and they suck in donors with t-shirts, widgets, and peppy updates. But then, actual product development stalls at some point, and ultimately collapses. What then happens to the $? Certainly it doesn't go back to the donors. Stories abound with the recipients moving and disappearing their online presence. How does one determine if the idea was legitimate, or a planned scam from the beginning? Who alerts authorities to pursue the fraudsters?

I think we are just in the beginning phases of a more aggressive pursuit and charging for online fraudulent crowdsourcing. Some high profile fraudsters need a long prison term to set a precedent-- maybe these 3 will be made examples of, with long prison terms. I hope so.

More on money laundering and crowd-sourced funding fraud:

Fund Me or Fraud Me? Crowdfunding Scams Are on the Rise

https://nonprofitquarterly.org/2015...gainst-crowdfunding-fraud-and-its-about-time/

Crowdfunding or Crimefunding? Fraudsters Kickstart Money Laundering Campaigns

Crowdfunding: A New Cover for Money Laundering | CaseWare Analytics

 

[Anecdotal]

Gofundme money is TAXED if over a certain amount. Who assumed the tax burden here?

Is it though? Gifts are not considered income (to recipient) for income tax purposes (federally). If none of the donors gave more than $15,000 then they didn't make a taxable gift for gift tax purposes. Both sides of the arrangement should be tax free, at least when this was still considered to be a non-scam.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Bobbitt was arrested Wednesday night by the Philadelphia Police Department on charges of being a fugitive from justice. He has been transferred to Burlington County, New Jersey, to face charges related to the GoFundMe case.

NJ couple and homeless vet they raised $400K for all arrested

 

[JerseyGirl]

Press conference started. There is live coverage here:

WATCH LIVE: Homeless man and NJ couple arrested in GoFundMe case

 

[JerseyGirl]

Bobbitt, couple charged in homeless GoFundMe case

 

[JerseyGirl]

In a news conference on Thursday, the Burlington County Prosecutor said the tale was "fictitious" and "formed the basis of a scam." He said it was, "concocted to compel kind-hearted individuals to contribute to the cause." "The entire campaign was predicated on a lie," he said.

Investigators learned McClure texted a friend less than an hour after the campaign went live saying the story was "completely made up." She did not run out of gas, the prosecutor said, and Bobbitt did not spend $20 to help her.

McClure, D'Amico and Bobbitt conspired to fabricate and promote the "feel-good" story with the hopes of raising additional funds.

All three have been charged with Theft by Deception (second-degree,) and Conspiracy to Commit Theft by Deception (second-degree).

D'Amico and McClure, both of Florence Township, New Jersey, surrendered on Wednesday night. They were processed and released.

Bobbitt, of the Kensington section of Philadelphia, was charged on Wednesday and is awaiting extradition.

Prosecutor: GoFundMe story about helpful homeless man a hoax

 

[K_Z]

Right now, the charges against the trio are theft and conspiracy-- STATE level charges. I'm hopeful that FEDERAL charges will be filed, as the internet fraud crosses state lines. ($400,000 in donations from lots and lots of internet IP's across many states, and possible some international locations.)

It's not clear yet whether the feds are interested in bringing charges, or are "waiting" to see how the state charges pan out. The report below outlines the state/ federal prosecution of several cases.

*Would be interesting to hear an attorney's perspective on this-- the state versus federal prosecution. Both levels of prosecution can occur if the charges are different, thought not usually simultaneously.

IMO, the only way to put brakes on crowd sourcing internet fraud is for *federal* charges to apply. That is where the serious consequences can be applied. Otherwise, state lower level charges are just a slap on the wrist, IMO, and others continue at will with nefarious schemes.

Internet Fraud

Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) | Annual Reports

Scroll down in this 2017 report (pg 20-21) to the crime victims chart-- misrepresentation and charity scams are considered federal fraud crimes. $15 million lost in 2017 alone to those 2 categories.

https://pdf.ic3.gov/2017_IC3Report.pdf

 

[JerseyGirl]

After fees, the proceeds of the campaign netted about $367,000, all deposited into McClure's accounts, the prosecutor said. Bobbitt received $75,000, and within months McClure and D'Amico had "squandered" their share to buy a car, high-end handbags and trips. They also used it at casinos, he said.

Investigators reviewed more than 67,000 text messages in the case, including one McClure sent to a friend that read, "Okay so wait the gas part is completely made up, but the guy isn't. I had to make something up to make people feel bad."

In other texts, the couple discussed their inability to pay bills and their mountain of debts.

GoFundMe will provide a full refund to the campaign's donors, he said.

GoFundMe campaign for homeless man 'predicated on a lie' - CNN

 

[AzPistonsGirl]

wow, roller coaster much? Just read this thread from start to here and I'm exhausted.

I don't even know what to say here. Manipulation at its best, on several levels. And the damage done to those who truly are in need... not everyone is bad or has nefarious intent. But folks like this trio just make me feel so yucky...

I hate being suspicious... but it is harder and harder to trust that there really is good in some folks... and I bet we all hate to feel like we have to question our own judgment.

 

[JrzyGirl70]

I am just so sad over this.. so disheartening, his story really touched me last Thanksgiving morning that I made a donation and remember talking about what a feel good moment it was at dinner that night.

 

[Inthedetails]

I am just so sad over this.. so disheartening, his story really touched me last Thanksgiving morning that I made a donation and remember talking about what a feel good moment it was at dinner that night.

Being moved by a touching story is a good quality to have. The scammers are greedy liars - they lack the good qualities that you have.

jmo

 

[jjenny]

Bobbitt was arrested Wednesday night by the Philadelphia Police Department on charges of being a fugitive from justice. He has been transferred to Burlington County, New Jersey, to face charges related to the GoFundMe case.

NJ couple and homeless vet they raised $400K for all arrested

I am not sure what he was thinking when he decided to sue the other two. Sounds like he got close to the third of the money, which presumably what the arrangement was, since it all was a scam to begin with? If he didn't complain that he didn't get the money, they would have all likely gotten away with it.

 

[mpnola]

I am not sure what he was thinking when he decided to sue the other two. Sounds like he got close to the third of the money, which presumably what the arrangement was, since it all was a scam to begin with? I he didn't complain that he didn't get the money, they would have all likely gotten away with it.

Exactly. Greed know no boundaries, apparently.

 

[Blondie in Spokane]

They all met one month prior to the fake story being circulated.....now they are each facing 10 years in jail. Gee, I wonder if it was worth it.....

GoFundMe couple and homeless veteran knew each other for a MONTH before they made up story | Daily Mail Online

 

[AzPistonsGirl]

gotta admit though, good story, sucked in a lot of people... who now feel like suckers and may think twice before helping others...