2 Guilty Pleas In $400K GoFundMe Scam Involving Homeless Vet

BURLINGTON COUNTY, NJ - Two suspects in the alleged $400,000 GoFundMe scam involving a homeless vet have pleaded guilty to charges at the federal level, authorities announced on Wednesday.

Kate McClure, 28, of Bordentown, pleaded guilty to an information charging her with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud Wednesday afternoon, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Earlier in the day, Johnny Bobbitt Jr., pleaded guilty to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. He is the 36-year-old homeless vet who was supposed to be the beneficiary of the donations through the online fundraiser.

The count of wire fraud conspiracy to which McClure pleaded guilty carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for June 19.

The count of conspiracy to commit money laundering to which Bobbitt pleaded guilty carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.

According to the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office, this case is separate from the charges McClure, Bobbitt and Mark D'Amico face in Burlington County. All three have been charged with conspiracy and theft by deception. D'Amico is the only one of the three who didn't plead guilty to federal charges on Wednesday.

Bobbitt is next scheduled to appear in Burlington County Superior Court on charges in that case on Friday. He has applied for entry into a pre-trial intervention program, a diversionary program that permits non-violent first time offenders to avoid criminal prosecution. As part of the program, he would admit to some form of guilt, and would be subject to restitution.

The stated goal of the fundraiser was to help Bobbitt get back on his feet after he struggled with addiction for years. His addiction began when he was working as a medic in North Carolina, and he moved to Philadelphia with the intention of starting a new life. However, a job he had lined up fell through, and he soon found himself once again feeding his addiction and living on the streets.

However, the fundraiser was allegedly based on fraud. The three stated that McClure broke down on I-95 while driving into Philadelphia in November 2017, and that Bobbitt used his last $20 to help her get gas.

It was later revealed that the three made up the story, according to authorities. They said it was based on a similar story involving Bobbitt in North Carolina five years earlier.

The three collected $400,000 from 14,000 donors over a matter of weeks. It all unraveled when Bobbitt accused the couple of spending the majority of the money on themselves.

Bobbitt filed a lawsuit, and it was soon revealed that McClure and D'Amico spent the majority of the money on themselves. They spent all but $25,000, which was set aside for Bobbitt.

All three were charged in November, about a year after the fundraiser was launched. GoFundMe has since refunded everyone who donated to the "Paying It Forward" campaign.

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