MOUNT HOLLY, N.J. – Prosecutors in New Jersey say a feel-good story that captured the nation was a hoax.
Prosecutors said Mike D’Amico and Katie McClure conspired with homeless man Johnny Bobbitt in 2017. All three face charges of conspiracy and theft by deception. D’Amico and McClure turned themselves in Wednesday, while Bobbitt remains on the run.
D’Amico and McClure started a GoFundMe page that claimed Bobbitt spent his last $20 to help fill McClure’s empty gas tank after her car broke down. Prosecutors now say that story was made up.
The story went viral, and the GoFundMe campaign quickly raised more than $400,000. The story also created headlines recently when Bobbitt sued McClure and D’Amico, when they said they withheld the money because they claimed he would spend it on drugs.
During an appearance in August on NBC’s “Megyn Kelly Today” show, D’Amico told Kelly there was well over $150,000 left of the donations.
A judge ordered the couple to turn over all of the funds to Bobbitt, who claimed the couple mismanaged the money.
The couple’s home was also raided in September, but no charges were filed immediately afterward.
The couple’s lawyer told NBC News Thursday, “We have no comment, have a nice day.”
