Homeless man reported $ 400,000 convicted of taking part in hoax

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Johnny Bobbitt Jr. was sentenced to a five-year special probation period for participating in what turned out to be a viral hoax.

He pleaded guilty to the charge in March.

According to the story that was presented in 2017, Kate McClure, a resident of New Jersey, ran out of gas and found herself stuck in Interstate 95 in Philadelphia. A homeless man, Johnny Bobbitt Jr., would have seen and given him his last 20 dollars for gasoline.

McClure and her boyfriend, Mark D 'Amico, have published articles on "good action" on social networks, including a photo of her with Bobbitt on an off ramp. They also launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for the homeless, saying they wanted to pay him to the good Samaritan and get him out of the street.

Their story made headlines in national newspapers that drew attention to their crowdfunding, which raised nearly $ 400,000.

"In reality, McClure has never run out of gas and Bobbitt has never spent his last 20 bucks for it," according to a press release from the US Attorney's Office. "Amico and McClure would have conspired to create the false story in order to get money from donors."

The couple transferred the funds to their bank account and bought a BMW, expensive handbags and travel, including casinos in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Nevada, according to court documents.

McClure transferred $ 25,000 from his bank account to Bobbitt in December 2017, federal attorneys said. According to Burlington County Attorney Scott Coffina, he received $ 75,000 in total.

Both McClure and Bobbitt also pleaded guilty to federal charges in early March.

How did a scam on GoFundMe start with $ 20 and a good story – but it's gradually revealed

McClure, 28, could be sentenced to 20 years in prison and a $ 250,000 fine after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit electronic fraud. She will be sentenced on June 19th.

Bobbitt, 36, could be sentenced to 10 years in prison and a $ 250,000 fine after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering. He will be sentenced at a later date on the federal charge.

The probation sentences for Friday's sentence in Burlington County require him to enroll in the court's addiction court program, in which he will have to find a job and join a scheme. structured treatment and recovery services. Any offense could result in a five-year prison sentence, according to Burlington County District Attorney Spokesperson Joel Bewley.

CNN asked Bobbitt's lawyer to comment, but did not get an answer.

A history of well-being collapses

The story began to collapse after Bobbitt sued McClure and Amico, accusing them of withholding money raised on his behalf.

This lawsuit resulted in a search warrant, a statement and an investigation into their campaign, which uncovered the alleged conspiracy. Since then, GoFundMe has repaid thousands of people who have made a donation, thinking of doing so in Bobbitt.

In November, prosecutors alleged that it was a scam perpetrated by the three individuals.

Mark D & # 39; Amico, McClure's boyfriend at the time, is not the subject of federal charges. But McClure and Amico face local charges of second-degree theft by deception and conspiracy to commit a robbery by deception.

McClure is scheduled to appear in Burlington County Court on Monday, April 15.

"The history of the pay-it-forward that led this fundraiser might seem too good to be true," said Coffina at that time. "Unfortunately, that was it, the whole campaign was based on a lie."

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