This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/nov/15/johnny-bobbitt-gofundme-scam-arrest-viral-gas-story-couple-charged
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Homeless man and couple ‘completely made up’ viral story that raised $400,000 | Homeless man and couple ‘completely made up’ viral story that raised $400,000 |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| A feelgood tale of a homeless man using his last $20 to help a stranded New Jersey woman buy gas was actually a complete lie, manufactured to get strangers to donate more than $400,000 to help the down-and-out good Samaritan, a prosecutor has said. | A feelgood tale of a homeless man using his last $20 to help a stranded New Jersey woman buy gas was actually a complete lie, manufactured to get strangers to donate more than $400,000 to help the down-and-out good Samaritan, a prosecutor has said. |
| The Burlington county prosecutor Scott Coffina announced criminal charges on Thursday against the couple who told the story to newspapers and television stations along with the homeless man who conspired with them to tell the story. | The Burlington county prosecutor Scott Coffina announced criminal charges on Thursday against the couple who told the story to newspapers and television stations along with the homeless man who conspired with them to tell the story. |
| He said the money, donated to the homeless man, Johnny Bobbitt, will be refunded to people who saw the story and contributed to him through a GoFundMe page set up by the couple, Mark D’Amico and Katelyn McClure. | He said the money, donated to the homeless man, Johnny Bobbitt, will be refunded to people who saw the story and contributed to him through a GoFundMe page set up by the couple, Mark D’Amico and Katelyn McClure. |
| “The entire campaign was predicated on a lie,” Coffina said. “It was fictitious and illegal and there are consequences.” | “The entire campaign was predicated on a lie,” Coffina said. “It was fictitious and illegal and there are consequences.” |
| Bobbitt was arrested on Wednesday night by US marshals in Philadelphia and remained in custody on Thursday on probation detainers and a $50,000 bond. A message requesting comment was left with a previous attorney of Bobbitt’s. | Bobbitt was arrested on Wednesday night by US marshals in Philadelphia and remained in custody on Thursday on probation detainers and a $50,000 bond. A message requesting comment was left with a previous attorney of Bobbitt’s. |
| D’Amico and McClure surrendered to authorities on Wednesday night and were released. Their attorney said they have no comment. All were charged with theft by deception. | D’Amico and McClure surrendered to authorities on Wednesday night and were released. Their attorney said they have no comment. All were charged with theft by deception. |
| Investigators searched the Florence, New Jersey, home of D’Amico and McClure in September after questions arose about what happened to the money they raised for Bobbitt. The couple claimed he helped McClure get gas after she became stranded on Interstate 95 in Philadelphia last year. | Investigators searched the Florence, New Jersey, home of D’Amico and McClure in September after questions arose about what happened to the money they raised for Bobbitt. The couple claimed he helped McClure get gas after she became stranded on Interstate 95 in Philadelphia last year. |
| McClure said that in an attempt to thank Bobbitt for his help, she set up the fundraising page, which brought in more than $400,000 and landed them in the national news. | McClure said that in an attempt to thank Bobbitt for his help, she set up the fundraising page, which brought in more than $400,000 and landed them in the national news. |
| Coffina said almost no part of the tale was true. McClure didn’t run out of gas. Bobbitt didn’t spot her in trouble and give her money. | Coffina said almost no part of the tale was true. McClure didn’t run out of gas. Bobbitt didn’t spot her in trouble and give her money. |
| Less than an hour after the couple set up the page to solicit donations, McClure sent a text message to a friend acknowledging the story was “completely made up”. | Less than an hour after the couple set up the page to solicit donations, McClure sent a text message to a friend acknowledging the story was “completely made up”. |
| Prosecutors began investigating after Bobbitt claimed he wasn’t getting the money that had been raised on his behalf. He later sued the couple. | Prosecutors began investigating after Bobbitt claimed he wasn’t getting the money that had been raised on his behalf. He later sued the couple. |
| It’s not exactly clear what happened with the money, though Bobbitt’s attorney has said it’s all gone. | It’s not exactly clear what happened with the money, though Bobbitt’s attorney has said it’s all gone. |
| New Jersey | New Jersey |
| US crime | US crime |
| Homelessness | Homelessness |
| Philadelphia | |
| news | news |
| Share on Facebook | Share on Facebook |
| Share on Twitter | Share on Twitter |
| Share via Email | Share via Email |
| Share on LinkedIn | Share on LinkedIn |
| Share on Pinterest | Share on Pinterest |
| Share on Google+ | Share on Google+ |
| Share on WhatsApp | Share on WhatsApp |
| Share on Messenger | Share on Messenger |
| Reuse this content | Reuse this content |