Man in GoFundMe scam gets 27-month federal prison sentence

A New Jersey man who conspired along with his then-girlfriend to cook dinner up a feel-good story a couple of useful homeless man after which used the lie to boost tons of of 1000's of dollars in donations on-line was sentenced in federal court docket to greater than two years in jail.

Mark D’Amico may also need to serve three years probation as soon as he completes his 27-month time period.

He additionally should pay restitution and endure playing, drug and psychological well being counselling.

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FILE - On this Might 28, 2019, picture, Mark D'Amico stands throughout his arraignment to fees together with theft by deception at Burlington County Superior Courtroom in Mount Holly, N.J. D'Amico, who conspired along with his former girlfriend to cook dinner up a feel-good story a couple of useful homeless man after which used the lie to boost tons of of 1000's of dollars in donations on-line has been sentenced in federal court docket. DAmico acquired a 27-month time period on Friday, April 1, 2022. (Tim Tai/The Philadelphia Inquirer vi(AP)

Earlier than being sentenced, D’Amico instructed US District Choose Noel Hillman that he was a modified man, dedicated to his household.

”The person who did the issues that led us right here not exists,” D’Amico mentioned.

He had pleaded responsible earlier than Hillman in Camden in November to 1 rely of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

An indictment unsealed in January 2020 charged D’Amico with a complete of 16 counts of conspiracy, wire fraud and cash laundering.

A New Jersey couple, Kate McClure and Mark D'Amico, and a homeless man, Johnny Bobbit Jr., are accused of making a false GoFundMe crowdfunding story that in the end raised US$400,000 in fraudulent funds.(AAP)

He had already pleaded responsible to fees in state court docket final yr.

His former girlfriend, Katelyn McClure, and homeless veteran Johnny Bobbitt Jr beforehand pleaded responsible to state and federal fees.

Bobbitt was sentenced to 5 years’ probation on state fees in 2019.

Each are scheduled to be sentenced on the federal fees this yr.

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FILE - This November 2018 file mixture of pictures supplied by the Burlington County Prosecutors workplace reveals Johnny Bobbitt, left, Katelyn McClure and Mark D'Amico. On Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2018, GoFundMe says it has made refunds to everybody who contributed to a marketing campaign involving homeless veteran Bobbitt who prosecutors allege schemed with a New Jersey couple, McClure and D'Amico, to rip-off donors out of $400,000. (Burlington County Prosecutors Workplace through AP, File)(AP)

The trio made up a narrative in late 2017 about Bobbitt giving $26 to assist McClure when her automobile ran out of gasoline in Philadelphia, in response to prosecutors.

D’Amico and McClure solicited donations by GoFundMe, purportedly to assist Bobbitt, and carried out newspaper and tv interviews.

Investigators mentioned D’Amico was the plot’s ringleader.

They ultimately raised greater than $534,000 in donations over a couple of month, in response to investigators, who mentioned nearly no a part of the story was true.

The group had met close to a Philadelphia on line casino in October 2017 shortly earlier than they instructed their story, prosecutors mentioned.

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Accused $400 GoFundMe rip-off participant Johnny Bobbitt enters Burlington County Courtroom Friday December 14, 2018. ( AP PHOTO / DAVID SWANSON / The Philadelphia Inquirer )(AP)

Authorities started investigating after Bobbitt sued the couple, accusing them of not giving him the cash.

The federal prison grievance alleged all the cash raised within the marketing campaign was spent by March 2018, with giant chunks spent by McClure and D’Amico on a leisure car, a BMW and journeys to casinos in Las Vegas and New Jersey.