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Homeless Man At Center Of Alleged GoFundMe Scheme Arrested Again
In 2017, Johnny Bobbitt touched hearts across the nation with a story about him giving his last $20 dollars to a stranded woman, despite the fact that he was homeless. Officials say that story was a lie.
The man at the center of a now-infamous alleged GoFundMe scam, which raised more than $400,000 after sharing a fake story of a homeless man using his last $20 to help a stranded woman buy gas, has been arrested again.
The Burlington County Prosecutor's Office in New Jersey announced in a tweet Wednesday that Johnny Bobbitt, 35, was arrested in Philadelphia and that he will soon be extradited back to New Jersey.
New Jersey authorities had issued an arrest warrant for Bobbitt after he failed to show up for a Tuesday court appearance, according to NBC News. Details about his arrest have not been released.
Bobbitt, a Marine veteran, is accused of conspiring with Katelyn McClure and her former boyfriend Mark D'Amico of concocting a feel-good story about Bobbitt, at the time homeless, giving McClure his last $20 when her car ran out of gas in November 2017.
The crowdfunding campaign claimed that the money would go to Bobbitt to help get his life back on track. However, authorities claim McClure and D'Amico spent a large portion of the money on luxury items and casino trips for themselves.
Bobbitt filed a lawsuit against the former couple, claiming that they withheld money intended for him. However, that suit led to an investigation which not only implicated McClure and D’Amico but also Bobbitt after authorities say they learned the entire gas money story was a lie.
They have all been charged with conspiracy and theft by deception. If convicted, each of the three could face up to a decade behind bars.
[Photo: Associated Press]
