GoFundMe promises homeless people will get money; the house of the wanted couple

GoFundMe, the online fundraising site, is committed to ensuring homeless veteran John Bobbitt Jr. receives all of the $ 402,000 raised last year to help him out.

"We are pleased to announce that Johnny will be fully paid up and we are committed to getting the balance of the funds he has not yet benefited from or from which he has not benefited," announced Thursday night. the online fundraising company in a joint statement. Cozen O 'Connor, the law firm representing Bobbitt in a civil lawsuit filed last week with the goal of recovering all funds.

"GoFundMe's goal has always been to make sure Johnny gets the support he deserves."

September 6th: The court orders the testimony of a couple who raised $ 400,000 for a homeless

The promise comes the same day the investigators went to the couple's home in New Jersey.

On Thursday morning, in Burlington County, New Jersey, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant in Florence, New Jersey, home of Katelyn McClure and Mark D & # 39; Amico, the couple who lined it up. Helped when in Philadelphia.

"We will continue to assist in the ongoing law enforcement investigation," said GoFundMe.

"As we said, our platform benefits from the GoFundMe guarantee, which means that in the rare cases where GoFundMe, law enforcement or a user discover that campaigns are being misused, donors and the beneficiaries are protected. We will continue to work with Johnny's team to ensure that he will receive all donated amounts. "

Law enforcement officials offered little information on the criminal investigation.

The law enforcement authorities executed a search warrant on Thursday, September 6, 2018 in Florence, New Jersey, home of Katelyn McClure and Mark D & # 39; Amico. (Photo: Chris LaChall, (Cherry Hill, N.J.) Courier Post)

Burlington County District Attorney Scott A. Coffina confirmed in a brief statement that investigators from his office worked with the Florence Township Police to execute the search warrant, "in the context of a criminal investigation". .

"At that time, no charges were filed," Coffina said in the statement Thursday morning. "Other updates will be provided depending on the circumstances."

Bobbitt, a Philadelphia homeless veteran, sued McClure and Amico for recovering much of the $ 402,000 that they solicited as part of an online crowdfunding campaign. 39, last year.

Earlier this week, Bobbitt 's lawyer said that he had learned that all the money was gone. He can not be reached on Thursday to comment on the criminal investigation.

Bobbitt met McClure in November when she ran out of gas on an off-ramp at Interstate 95 in Philadelphia. The homeless man used his last 20 dollars to walk to a station to buy his gas.

McClure and D'Amico brought him food and gifts, and later started fundraising online for Bobbitt who finally turned out as a news of his good deed.

More than 14,000 people contributed to the campaign.

A "No Trespassing" sign is at the home of Katelyn McClure and Mark D Amico in Florence, New Jersey, whose authorities searched the house on Thursday, September 6, 2018. (Photo: Chris LaChall, (Cherry Hill, N.J.) Courier Post)

It is not yet clear what the police were looking for in the couple, but a local TV reporter posted a video of a BMW in the driveway being loaded onto a truck and some Investigators were seen removing boxes of materials from the property. The couple was at home at the time of the search.

A sign "no intrusion" was posted Thursday on the edge of the property.

Wednesday, in Superior Court, Judge Paula T. Dow ordered the couple to provide the court Friday afternoon with documents indicating how many donations were spent, how they were used and what remained .

The judge also ordered the couple to make affidavits Monday on their cash handling, some of which confirmed that the couple's lawyer, Ernest Badway, was associated with the personal funds of his clients.

Mr. Badway testified in court Wednesday that his clients were intending to invoke their Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and to refuse to testify about the destination of the money. .

Badway did not respond to requests for comments on Thursday.

It is unclear whether the judicial inquiry will have an impact on the civil court orders.

McClure and D'Amico claimed to have spent about $ 200,000 on Bobbitt by buying him a trailer and a used vehicle, and providing him with living expenses that he was using in part to buy from. drug and give to his family.

Bobbitt says he received only $ 75,000 in cash and the value of the truck and motorhome.

Chris Fallon, Bobbitt's lawyer, admitted that his client was suffering from addiction and was now in a rehab center.

August 25th: Homeless again, the man is afraid of never getting most of the $ 400,000 from a GoFundMe in his honor

The camper had been parked on land owned by McClure's family, but Bobbitt said he became homeless after D'Amico told him in June that he had to leave the property.

Last week, Bobbitt's lawyer told the court that there was more than $ 150,000 in donations, but Fallon said he learned in a telephone conversation with Badway that the money was gone.

A spokesman for GoFundMe said the company was working with law enforcement to make sure Bobbitt gets all the money he owes him. The company also said it had put $ 20,000 into an account established by his lawyer to facilitate his investigation.