NJ Man Back On Streets – Even Though $400K Was Raised: Reports

Johnny Bobbit Jr. became an instant celebrity when the homeless man gave his last $20 to a Burlington County woman so she could get gas when she broke down on I-95 on her way to Philadelphia. The woman and her boyfriend then started a GoFundMe campaign and helped raise more than $400,000 to help the Good Samaritan.

Nearly two years later, though, Bobbit reports he has returned to panhandling, and that he has no access to the money that was raised for him through the campaign, according to philly.com.

Kate McClure, the driver Bobbit helped, and her boyfriend, Mark D’Amico, started the campaign for Bobbit.

D’Amico told the newspaper he is controlling the money, and will give it to Bobbit when he “gets a job and stops using drugs.” But Bobbit thinks D’Amico and McClure might have spent all the money themselves.

“I think it might have been good intentions in the beginning, but with that amount of money, I think it became greed,” Bobbitt told the newspaper.

GoFundMe has opened an investigation into whether the money was squandered.

"GoFundMe is looking into the claims of misuse regarding this campaign," a GoFundMe representative said in a statement. "When there is a dispute, we work with all parties involved to ensure funds go to the right place. We will work to ensure that Johnny receives the help he deserves and that the donors intentions are honored. GoFundMe always cooperates with law enforcement investigations."

The spokesperson also noted that less than one tenth of one percent of all campaigns on the platform involve misuse, but when misuse is discovered, donors are fully protected and will be refunded. The Paying It Forward GoFundMe Page still exists, but is no longer taking donations.

Bobbit previously admitted that he’s battled addiction for years, and acknowledged that overcoming the past wouldn’t be easy. The former Marine described himself as a “functioning addict” in North Carolina, and moved to Philadelphia for a fresh start before falling back into his old ways.

He had said he bought a home with the money raised, but five months after he grabbed national headlines, he was living in a camper on property owned by D’Amico and McClure in Florence, Burlington County. He said he wasn’t able to get his dream truck because he didn’t have a driver’s license.

See related: Homeless Man Will Pay It Forward After Woman Raises $380K For Him

The attached image was posted on the Paying It Forward GoFundMe Page.