Homeless veteran sues couple who raised GoFundMe donations for him

Homeless veteran Johnny Bobbitt has filed a lawsuit against the New Jersey couple who raised money for him on GoFundMe. 

Bobbitt, 35, who was famously rescued from the streets after fundraising efforts from Kate McClure, 28, claims he doesn't have access to the money. The lawsuit aims to retrieve funds owed to Bobbitts, who is now back living on the streets and begging for cash. 

Last year, Bobbitt made headlines for giving "his last $20" to help the stranded McClure, 28, buy petrol. To thank him for his generosity, McClure set up a GoFundMe page and encouraged people to donate so Bobbitt would no longer have to live on the streets. 

After an amount of $AU546,000 was raised by 14,000 donors, the money was deposited into the personal bank accounts of McClure and her boyfriend, Mark D'Amico, 39.

The documents also allege the couple used the donated money as "their personal piggybank" and that they "conspired" to use Bobbitt's money to "fund a lifestyle they could not otherwise afford". 

This is in reference to claims McClure recently bought a new BMW, and the couple have taken frequent trips to Florida and Las Vegas together. Both insist these purchases were made with their own money. However, D'Amico admitted he did use some of the funds ($AU680) on gambling, and paid it back the next day.

It is unclear how much money remains. The 35-year-old's lawyer, Christopher C. Fallon, said they pursued filing the suit after D'Amico refused to provide financial records. 

“He’s really left us with no choice but to go forward,” Fallon told Philly.com.

On the show, the couple claimed not to have spent "one dollar" of the funds on themselves. They told host Megyn Kelly they stopped giving Bobbitts money because he would spend it on drugs. 

Bobbitts denies these claims. He told The Inquirer the $AU34,000 given to him by the couple in December was given to family members, and a "small amount" was spent on drugs. 

Commenting on claims they stole the money, an emotional McClure said, "It's so hard to deal with when we know we did a good thing. I would do it all over again. I would do it all over again for him."

After the money was raised in June last year, McClure initially vowed to take the large sum and buy Bobbitt a house and a a 1999 Ford Ranger. "There will also be 2 trusts set up in his name, one essentially giving him the ability to collect a small ‘salary’ each year and another retirement trust which will be wisely invested by a financial planner," she wrote.

Instead of a house, Bobbitt opted to buy a campervan, which he parked on McClure's property. He didn't get his Ford Ranger, either, but another truck that broke down and he couldn't afford to repair.

He has since sold both. However, because both vehicles were registered in McClure's name, he's yet to see the cash from the sale.

He told the Philadelphia Inquirer last week that despite claims the couple had spent half the donations on caring for him, Bobbitt hasn't received anything that could total that sum of money. Also, despite promises to hire a lawyer and financial advisor, he hasn't met with anyone or signed anything to do with a trust.

"Giving him all that money, it's never going to happen. I'll burn it in front of him," D'Amico said in an interview with the Inquirer. Adding that giving an addict a large amount of money would be like "giving him a loaded gun".

Bobbitt's lawyer said, "We're filing an injunction to enjoin them from doing anything with the money other than delivering it to us or paying Johnny Bobbitt. We're happy to help Johnny and help see that the generous donations of 14,000 people are honored."

“I think it might have been good intentions in the beginning," Bobbitt told the Inquirer  last week. "But with that amount of money, I think it became greed."

GoFundMe are currently looking into the dispute. Spokesperson Bartlett Jackson said: "When there is a dispute, we work with all parties involved to ensure funds go to the right place. We will work to ensure that Johnny receives the help he deserves and that the donors' intentions are honored."

Bobbitt told the Philadelphia Inquirer that begging for money on the streets was easier than trying to get his GoFundMe donations from McClure and D'Amico.