NJ Man in $400K GoFundMe Scheme Faces Federal Charges
The New Jersey man prosecutors say is in the middle of a scheme to bilk thousands of GoFundMe donors out of more than $400,000 with a fake feel-good story about a homeless veteran now faces federal charges.
Mark D'Amico is scheduled to appear in Camden federal court on conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering charges Thursday afternoon.
Combined the charges carry a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and $500,000 in fines.
Earlier this year, the two others charged in the fraud, Katelyn McClure and Johnny Bobbitt Jr., pleaded guilty to federal counts.
Prosecutors say D'Amico and his then-girlfriend McClure made up a story in 2017 about homeless veteran Bobbitt giving his last $20 to help McClure when her car ran out of gas in Philadelphia. The couple later alerted Bobbitt to the money raised and deposited $25,000 into his bank account, according to court documents.
The "paying it forward" good Samaritan story went viral, picked up by local and national news outlets, leading to more than 14,000 donors giving around $400,000 to help out Bobbitt.
McClure and D'Amico used thousands raised online on personal expenses including vacations, a BMW, clothing, handbags and D'Amico's gambling addiction, rather than giving it all to Bobbitt, court records said.
McClure said D'Amico was the ringleader and concocted the story. D’Amico denied this and pleaded not guilty in state court to charges of conspiracy and theft by deception in late May, refusing a five-year plea offer.
Both Bobbitt and McClure agreed to testify against D’Amico during a jury trial.
“I’m not worried about it,” D’Amico told NBC10 after an earlier court hearing. “I already look as bad as I can look. I’m looking forward to hearing the truth in there and then people can make their own decisions.”
from NBC New York - Top Stories https://ift.tt/2OhTuoZ
No comments: