Man pleads guilty in $400,000 GoFundMe scam

Mark D'Amico, 29, pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree misapplication of entrusted property in Burlington County. "We are pleased that this defendant accepted responsibility for his role in this scam," Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina said in a statement. "He will be required to make full restitution to GoFundMe and the donors — the true victims in this case — and has agreed to a five-year term in New Jersey state prison."He will be officially sentenced in April.The charge stemmed from a viral 2017 story in which D'Amico's accomplice, Katelyn McClure, 29, supposedly ran out of gas and was stranded on Interstate 95 in Philadelphia. A homeless man, Johnny Bobbitt Jr., supposedly saw her and gave her his last $20 for gas. McClure and D'Amico, her then-boyfriend, posted about the "good deed" on social media and started a GoFundMe to raise money for him. But the story was not true and unraveled after more than $400,000 had been contributed by more than 14,000 people through GoFundMe.Prosecutors said the then-couple spent the money on a BMW, a New Year's trip to Las Vegas, gambling in casinos, Louis Vuitton handbags and other items.Bobbitt, who had been given $75,000, according to prosecutors, took civil action against D'Amico and McClure and the scam soon became public.BobRead More – Source