The attorney for a New Jersey couple under investigation after a good Samaritan accused them of helping themselves to some of the $400,000 in donations they raised says an indictment is likely.
In a letter dated Thursday, Ernest Badway, who represents Mark D'Amico and Katelyn McClure, wrote that one or both could be indicted by the Burlington County, New Jersey, prosecutor.
Badway said he and his firm would no longer represent the couple in a civil case against Johnny Bobbitt, a homeless veteran who the couple had raised money for through a GoFundMe campaign.
The lawyer who represents Mark D'Amico (center) and Katelyn McClure, wrote that one or both could be indicted by a New Jersey prosecutor. Homeless veteran Johnny Bobbitt (left) has filed a civil suit against the couple for misusing money raised for him via GoFundMe
McClure met Bobbitt in November 2017 when he used his last $20 to buy her gas. She and D'Amico then started a GoFundMe page for Bobbitt, which raised $400,000
D'Amico, 39, and McClure, 28, have been accused of misusing the $400,000 they raised through the campaign and Bobbitt is now suing the couple, claiming they kept the money for themselves and have spent it on vacations and gambling.
A raid on the couple's home in Florence Township, New Jersey, on September 6, captured by ABC6, led to investigators seizing a BMW, cash, jewelry and all personal and financial records from the couple.
In his letter, Badway wrote that because police executing the search warrant had taken 'everything of value' from the couple, it was impossible for the couple to defend themselves against Bobbitt's civil suit, which seeks an accounting of how the couple spent the crowdfunded donations, according to NJ.com.
The couple claimed that there was still 'well over' $150,000 of the raised money left and said they have not spent the money on themselves, but that they spent $200,000 on care for Bobbitt.
Whatever cash they did give him, they said he spent on drugs.
After Bobbitt shared his story earlier this month, GoFundMe launched an investigation into the couple's handling of the fund and Bobbitt's lawyers have asked for a forensic accountant to examine the couple's records and determine if they misspent any of the money.
Bobbitt said that McClure (left) and D'Amico (second right) did not give him the money that was raised, but kept the money for themselves and have spent it on vacations and gambling
McClure and D'Amico's New Jersey home was raided on September 6. Investigators seized cash, jewelry and all personal and financial records from the couple
Authorities also seized the couple's BMW. Bobbitt's lawyers have asked for a forensic accountant to examine the couple's records and determine if they misspent any of the money
Superior Court Judge Paula Dow agreed Monday to pause the case until December 7 in light of the raid on the couple's home in Florence Township, New Jersey.
The Burlington County Prosecutor's Office told NJ.com on Monday that charges have not been filed against D'Amico or McClure.
Badway on Monday declined to comment further.
McClure and Bobbitt met in November 2017 when McClure, a receptionist for the state Department of Transportation, ran out of gas in Philadelphia on her way home. Bobbitt was sleeping in the street and he used his last $20 to buy her gas and get her home safely.
She shared his good deed on social media and launched a GoFundMe page in the hope that strangers would return his kindness and, within a month, had raised $400,000 for Bobbitt.
Bobbitt said that the couple had made promises about trusts and retirement accounts, a financial adviser and lawyers, but that nothing the couple had promised him panned out as planned.
Instead of turning over the money to him, he said they maintained control of it and only once gave him a lump sum of cash, they bought him a trailer instead of a house, which was then kept on land owned by McClure's family, and he only received a used SUV instead of the pickup truck of his dreams. The SUV has since been sold.
McClure and D'Amico, meanwhile, insisted that Bobbitt wanted the trailer and car, and that when he blew through $25,000, allegedly on drugs, in just 13 days, they decided he could not be trusted with the rest of the money.
They say that an additional $30,000-$40,000 was eaten up by GoFundMe's fees and that another $135,000 were spent on lawyers, the trailer, an SUV, TVs, a laptop, a cell phone and a hotel where Bobbitt stayed when he first got off the street.
It is not clear what legal services were given before they fell into dispute.
During an interview with Megyn Kelly last week, the couple said they spent $200,000 on him in total and that $150,000 was still left.
In that interview, D'Amico said GoFundMe took $50,000.
Bobbitt's attorneys said last week that they believe Bobbitt only received $75,000 of the GoFundMe money, according to NJ.com.
Bobbitt is said to be back living on the streets and taking drugs again, although he is expected to check into a 30-day drug recovery program. His attorneys agreed to work for him for free.
The couple's original plea for donations on GoFundMe, which they labeled 'pay it forward'
Link hienalouca.com
https://hienalouca.com/2018/09/11/indictment-likely-for-gofundme-couple-accused-of-stealing-400k-raised-for-homeless-veteran/
Main photo article The attorney for a New Jersey couple under investigation after a good Samaritan accused them of helping themselves to some of the $400,000 in donations they raised says an indictment is likely.
In a letter dated Thursday, Ernest Badway, who represents Mark D’Amico and Katelyn McClure, ...
It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.
Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.
Dianne Reeves US News HienaLouca
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/09/10/22/4F8F1FB000000578-6152699-image-a-76_1536613607211.jpg
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