{"id":187,"date":"2018-11-16T06:10:38","date_gmt":"2018-11-16T06:10:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/howtowinthelotterysecrets.com\/index.php\/2018\/11\/16\/act-of-kindness-that-raised-400000-a-lie\/"},"modified":"2018-11-16T06:10:38","modified_gmt":"2018-11-16T06:10:38","slug":"act-of-kindness-that-raised-400000-a-lie","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/howtowinthelotterysecrets.com\/index.php\/2018\/11\/16\/act-of-kindness-that-raised-400000-a-lie\/","title":{"rendered":"Act of kindness that raised $400,000 a lie"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
<\/p>\n

\"KateImage copyright<\/span>
\n GoFundMe<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>

Image caption<\/span>
\n
\n Kate McClure (left) and partner Mark D’Amico (not pictured) are accused of conspiring with homeless man Johnny Bobbitt to take advantage of donors’ good will
\n <\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The US protagonists in a viral fundraising campaign for a homeless man have been charged with theft by deception and conspiracy.<\/p>\n

Kate McClure and Mark D’Amico raised more than $400,000 (\u00a3313,000) for homeless ex-marine Johnny Bobbitt.<\/p>\n

But in August, Mr Bobbitt launched legal action against the couple, claiming he did not get his fair share.<\/p>\n

Now, prosecutors in New Jersey say Mr Bobbitt was complicit in the alleged plot. All three face the same charges.<\/p>\n

A lawyer for Mr D’Amico, 39 and Ms McClure, 28, declined to comment, according to US media.<\/p>\n

What did the prosecutors say?<\/h2>\n

At Thursday’s press conference, Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina said the story “that drove this fundraiser might seem too good to be true. Unfortunately, it was”.<\/p>\n

“The entire campaign was predicated on a lie,” he added.<\/p>\n

The prosecutors believe the campaign was concocted a month before it was launched.<\/p>\n

The campaign text had said that Mr Bobbitt had used “his last $20” to help Ms McClure when her car broke down in 2017.<\/p>\n

Mr Bobbitt remains in custody, and the couple were released pending a court date on 24 December.<\/p>\n

The three face potential sentences of five to 10 years for the second-degree crimes.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n

What was the original campaign? <\/h2>\n

Mr Bobbitt and the couple first came to prominence in November 2017 when Ms McClure launched a crowdfunding GoFundMe campaign, which, they said, was to re-pay the debt of a homeless man who came to her aid at the side of a road.<\/p>\n

A photograph of Ms McClure and Mr Bobbitt, a veteran and drug addict who had lived on the streets for several years, standing on the side of the road, fronted the fundraising campaign.<\/p>\n

More than 14,000 people donated, many inspired by the story’s details, such as Mr Bobbitt instructing Ms McClure to lock her car doors before he returned with a can of petrol.<\/p>\n

Officials said on Thursday they believe the photo was staged after the three met previously when Ms McClure and Mr D’Amico visited a casino near an underpass where Mr Bobbitt spent time.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Image copyright<\/span>
\n Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>

Image caption<\/span>
\n
\n Kate McClure, Mark D’Amico, Johnny Bobbitt
\n <\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When did things go wrong?<\/h2>\n

The relationship between the three soured in August when Mr Bobbitt brought legal action against the couple, alleging they were using the funds as their personal “piggy bank” to fund an extravagant lifestyle.<\/p>\n