Philadelphia

Accused Ringleader Pleads Not Guilty in Good Samaritan GoFundMe Ruse

Mark D'Amico entered the plea Tuesday in Mount Holly, New Jersey, to a half-dozen fraud and money laundering charges

The man accused of hatching a GoFundMe scheme that raised hundreds of thousands of dollars will fight the allegations against him. Mark D’Amico and his ex-girlfriend, Katelyn McClure, made headlines in 2017 after their crowdfunding effort raised more than $400,000 for Johnny Bobbitt, a homeless man the couple claimed gave them money for gas. McClure and Bobbitt later pleaded guilty…

A man charged with scamming GoFundMe donors out of more than $400,000 with a fake feel-good story about a homeless veteran has pleaded not guilty.

Mark D'Amico entered the plea Tuesday in Mount Holly, New Jersey, to a half-dozen fraud and money laundering charges.

He rejected a plea deal offered by the state that carried a five-year prison term.

Prosecutors say D'Amico, his then-girlfriend Katelyn McClure and homeless veteran Johnny Bobbitt made up a story in 2017 about Bobbitt giving $20 to help McClure when her car ran out of gas in Philadelphia.

Bobbitt and McClure have both pleaded guilty to federal and state crimes related to their roles.

McClure says D'Amico was the ringleader and concocted the story.

Authorities began investigating last year after Bobbitt sued the couple for allegedly not giving him the money.

Copyright The Associated Press
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