OT: This is why I'm not a fan of GoFundMe's

[WVU]

not sure how this is any different than a fake vet or a guy faking an injury to get more handouts.  Throw those guys in prison too?

[mikeman]

That little boy that was thrown off the 3rd floor at the mall of america has a go-fund-me, as of yesterday it was up to over 500K.

[Dark Raver Camper]

I saw that and I wanted to comment. It’s over 600k as of yesterday.

 

This is insensitive on my part. It’s a wretched situation a family could be in. Very sad.

 

What are the prospects that all of his care is covered under his insurance? Probably a good majority of it. I don’t like when the people who make the GFM’s make healthcare an angle when almost all of it will be covered under insurance. Yeah deductibles and out of pocket. Don’t have a goal of 500k for deductibles and oop.

 

Good for the family when they receive these dontions. To cover healthcare is a huge stretch. Kid almost certainly insured.

[Dark Raver Camper]

Very few plans have lifetime maxes any longer either, so let’s dismiss that point now.

[Dark Raver Camper]

Plus I’m sure they will sue the mall for millions.

[mikeman]

Plus I’m sure they will sue the mall for millions.

I doubt it.

[Dark Raver Camper]

I doubt it.

Why not? The guy was kicked out of the mall for a bit. I'm almost certain they'll sue and have an undisclosed settlement. 

[mikeman]

Why not? The guy was kicked out of the mall for a bit. I'm almost certain they'll sue and have an undisclosed settlement. 

So they should have a guard station at the entrance and screen everyone who enters? Have a admit list, and a long list of people not welcome, is that what you're saying?

 

You dont sue everyone, every time something bad happens to you.

 

It may happen, but in this case i doubt it, keep in mind the victims are white, they're not you're typical trash that might consider such a thing.

[Dark Raver Camper]

I read the guy was banned from the mall previously for a certain amount of time. They let him back in.

 

They are 1 million percent going to sue that mall.

[mikeman]

I read the guy was banned from the mall previously for a certain amount of time. They let him back in.

 

They are 1 million percent going to sue that mall.

They didn't let him back in, he walked in, big difference. Why wouldn't they sue him? let me guess, because he doesn't have any money?

[MadTiger]

So they should have a guard station at the entrance and screen everyone who enters? Have a admit list, and a long list of people not welcome, is that what you're saying?

 

You dont sue everyone, every time something bad happens to you.

 

It may happen, but in this case i doubt it, keep in mind the victims are white, they're not you're typical trash that might consider such a thing.

 

A disproportionate number of people that file lawsuits in these situations ARE white.

 

Do you want to bet? No, I didn't think so.

 

If ignorance is bliss, you are one happy motherfucker.

[mikeman]

A disproportionate number of people that file lawsuits in these situations ARE white.

 

Do you want to bet? No, I didn't think so.

 

If ignorance is bliss, you are one happy motherfucker.

What's the "correct" proportion, and what is the disproportionate amt?

[Dark Raver Camper]

Guy probably bought the bitcoin to send offshore.

 

 

N.J. man accused of masterminding $400K homeless GoFundMe scam hit with new fed charges

 

Updated 5:37 PM;

Today 1:28 PM

Homeless vet N.J. Johnny Bobbitt Jr.

In this Nov. 2017, file photo, Johnny Bobbitt Jr., left, Kate McClure, right, and McClure's boyfriend Mark D'Amico pose at a Citgo station in Philadelphia (Elizabeth Robertson/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP)

 

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By Amanda Hoover | NJ Advance Media For NJ.com

The man accused of masterminding a $400,000 GoFundMe scam involving his then-girlfriend and a phony story about homeless veteran who helped her is now facing federal charges for his alleged role in the scheme.

 

Mark D’Amico faces charges of conspiring to commit wire fraud and conspiring to commit money laundering, authorities said. He appeared Thursday afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen M. Williams in Camden federal court and retained attorney Mark Davis, who is also representing D’Amico in his state case.

 

D’Amico, 40, is one of three people accused of duping 14,000 donors in a fake feel-good story, and the last charged by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. He and his ex-girlfriend, Kate McClure, tugged on the heartstrings of generous donors when they told the internet how a homeless veteran, Johnny Bobbitt, had spent his last $20 to help the young woman when she ran out of gas and became stranded on a stretch of I-95 in Philadelphia, authorities said.

 

The three then went on a media tour, retelling the tale as the money poured in — ultimately 40 times the initial fundraising goal of $10,000, authorities have said.

 

But months later, as the couple quarreled with their former friend Bobbitt over the funds, investigators determined the whole story was a scam. They also learned the trio had burned through the bulk of the donations in just months.

 

Mark D'Amico

Mark D'Amico walked out of federal court in Camden on his phone following an appearance there Thursday, Oct. 3, 2019. (Joe Brandt | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

 

Authorities said D’Amico helped Bobbitt open a bank account in December 2017, just a month after the story garnered international acclaim. The couple allegedly deposited $25,000 into it, some of which Bobbitt spent fueling his drug addiction. They had previously moved money from GoFundMe and deposited into McClure’s personal bank account or put onto debit cards, according to the criminal complaint.

 

The Bordentown couple wrote nearly $10,000 worth of checks to D’Amico’s relatives and also spent nearly $12,000 on virtual currency, like Bitcoin, authorities said. Bank records show withdraws of around $150,000 from ATMs, most of them occurring near casinos in Philadelphia, Las Vegas and Atlantic City, according to the complaint.

 

Text messages obtained by investigators show D’Amico and McClure acknowledged to each other that the gas story was a hoax. Those messages also show how McClure distrusted D’Amico to handle the money.

 

“I don’t trust you with any money at all whatsoever and this all needs to be accounted for. Like I’m really freaking out right now, just being honest,” McClure allegedly texted him. D’Amico replied, “OK I understand but I’m telling you it’s fine. Trust me with this it was all my idea I’m not going to do anything.”

 

When she urged him to keep up a normal job and continue to bring income in, D’Amico said, “You think I’m planning on never working off 100K?? That’s a weekend to me.”

 

D’Amico often played poker. During the 2017 Borgota Poker Open, he surpassed 4.1 million chips and took the lead, only to finish 112th in the tournament and bring home home $1,327, according to a poker website that tracks players.

 

“I want to get that car because I’d like to have something tangible after you spend every cent we have on gambling," McClure texted him in February. The couple then bought a used BMW, one of the high-ticket items that would ultimately raise suspicions.

 

D’Amico faces charges of conspiracy and theft by deception in Burlington County. He is expected to appear there for a hearing Nov. 22.

 

If found guilty of the federal charges, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for wire fraud and 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for money laundering. D’Amico was ordered Thursday to pay a $100,000 unsecured appearance bond and to avoid contact with any victims or witnesses in the case.

 

Bobbitt, 36, and McClure, 29, have both pleaded guilty to their roles in the scam in both state and federal courts. As part of their plea deals, Bobbitt and McClure have agreed to testify against their co-defendants.

 

Bobbitt is currently serving a five-year special probation in drug court. The courts have delayed sentencing dates for McClure several times this summer, but she is expected to face 27 to 33 months and four years in federal and state courts, respectively.

 

McClure’s attorney, James Gerrow, has painted D’Amico as the leader in the scam. He told NJ Advance Media McClure was the victim of domestic violence both in a past relationship and then with D’Amico. While their relationship did not result in physical violence until drama with the GoFundMe escalated, Gerrow said D’Amcio psychologically abused McClure, tearing her down as a person and trying to control her every move.

 

Davis, the attorney representing D’Amico, has said McClure lied to “save her ass.” He declined to comment after Thursday’s hearing.

 

In March of 2018, when authorities allege there was little to no money left, McClure texted D’Amico and said, “In a year you’ll be laughing about when you blew hundreds of thousands. Just like 45k. Just like 15k. No?! You can’t tell me you haven’t done this before. This is just a lot worse.”

 

He texted her later that month: “I agree that the last few months I f----d up. I said that the other day. So stop.”

 

NJ Advance Media reporter Joe Brandt contributed to this report. This story has been updated to include details from D’Amico’s Thursday afternoon court appearance.