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Homeless veteran, woman plead guilty in GoFundMe scam

Published  March 6, 2019 10:24pm EST
US
FOX 29 Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A homeless man and a woman pleaded guilty Wednesday to federal charges in a GoFundMe scheme that prosecutors say netted $400,000 with a phony story about him coming to her aid.

Johnny Bobbitt, 36, of Philadelphia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering, and Katelyn McClure, 28, of Bordentown, New Jersey, pleaded to a charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

MORE: Johnny Bobbitt, couple charged in homeless GoFundMe case | Woman raises more than $350K for homeless man who helped her

Prosecutors say Bobbitt conspired with McClure and her then-boyfriend Mark D'Amico to concoct a story about Bobbitt giving McClure his last $20 for gas when she was stranded along the highway.

Prosecutors say the feel-good tale that made international headlines in 2017 was predicated on a lie.

Bobbitt and the couple raised $400,000, which authorities say was spent on luxury items and casino trips.

GoFundMe says it has refunded everyone who contributed to the campaign.