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Couple accused of scamming homeless man of $550k

It was the heartwarming story that made the world believe in Good Samaritans again.

When homeless man Johnny Bobbitt gave stranded motorist Kate McClure his last $20 so she could get petrol, Kate decided she’d do her bit to thank him and started a GoFundMe page to help buy Johnny a home.

The story quickly went viral last November, with 14,000 people pitching in to help Philadelphia local Johnny get back on his feet again.

Kate’s GoFundMe campaign went viral after she shared her story of Johnny selflessly giving her his last $20. Photo: GoFundMe
Kate’s GoFundMe campaign went viral after she shared her story of Johnny selflessly giving her his last $20. Photo: GoFundMe

Fast forward to now, and things have taken an ugly turn, with Johnny claiming he’s been scammed of the incredible $548,000 raised by the crowdfunding campaign started by Kate and her boyfriend Mark D’Amico.

Johnny’s lawyer Chris Fallon says his client – who is back to living on the streets – has only seen $102,000 of the money raised.

“There should be close to another $300,000 [AU$410,000] available to Johnny,” Chris told CNN.

In addition to the missing funds, Kate’s promise of buying Johnny a house never materialised. Instead, she and her boyfriend purchased a camper which they parked in their driveway in New Jersey. A used car was also purchased for Johnny in Kate’s name, but reportedly broke down.

Johnny lived in the camper until June, but didn’t feel comfortable with the situation and left.

“This was not his choice and he didn’t have any say in the matter,” attorney Jacqueline Promislo, who is also acting on behalf of Johnny, told CNN.

“[He] had no access to money or food… He didn’t have any ability to take care of himself there.”

The couple have hit back at the claims, saying they tried their best to help Johnny and are maintaining control of the money until he kicks his drug addiction.

Kate and Johnny developed a friendship afterwards. Photo: GoFundMe
Kate and Johnny developed a friendship afterwards. Photo: GoFundMe

“Giving him all that money, it’s never going to happen,” Mark told the Inquirer. “I’ll burn it in front of him.”

Despite this, Mark admits to taking money from the fund for his own gambling, but claims he’s repaid it, while Johnny has questioned how Kate has paid for her new BMW and recent lavish vacations to California, Florida, and Las Vegas.

Johnny freely reveals he spent some of the money originally given to him on drugs, while giving the rest to friends and family, but with no financial records kept, is worried about the how much money is left – and when it will be given to him.

“I think it might have been good intentions in the beginning, but with that amount of money, I think it became greed,” Johnny is quoted as saying.

GoFundMe have since responded, and are investigating the claims “to ensure… that the donors’ intentions are honored.”

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