Couple Ordered To Give $400K To Homeless Vet Now Say All The Money Is Gone

via <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/hvv4r-paying-it-forward" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoFundMe</a>

Last week, a judge ordered that a New Jersey couple who raised over $400,000 for a homeless vet had to turn over what's left of the money to him by the end of the week. That deadline has now passed, and the couple hasn't complied with the order—because they now claim there is no money left.

Johnny Bobbitt Jr., the homeless veteran, first encountered Kate McClure in Philadelphia last October. Bobbitt, who at the time was living under an I-95 ramp in Kensington, gave his last $20 to her when she ran out of gas. McClure and her boyfriend Mark D’Amico were so moved by the gesture, they set up a GoFundMe so that "his life can get back to being normal...Truly believe that all Johnny needs is one little break. Hopefully with your help I can be the one to give it to him." Although it was set at $10,000, they ended up raising over $400K thanks to donations from over 14,000 people.

But Bobbitt, who is still panhandling, recently filed a lawsuit in New Jersey stating he never saw most of that money and that the couple kept it for themselves to "enjoy a lifestyle they could not afford." His attorney, Chris Fallon, told CNN last week, "From what I can see, the GoFundMe account raised $402,000 and GoFundMe charged a fee of approximately $30,000. Mark D'Amico and Kate McClure gave Johnny about $75,000. There should be close to another $300,000 available to Johnny."

While defending themselves on Megyn Kelly's show last week, the couple noted that only around $150,000 of the money was left. The judge ordered the couple to hand over the remaining funds by September 3rd so it could be placed in a trust for Bobbitt, but the weekend came and went with no money. Then Bobbitt's lawyer heard that there was no money to be had: "It com­plete­ly shocked me when I heard,” Fallon told the Philadelphia Inquirer.

The judge has ordered the couple to appear at a deposition on Monday to answer questions about the funds. Police also searched the couple's NJ home today. A BMW the couple purchased in recent months was taken away.

The couple have said they gave Bobbitt $25,000 in cash last Christmas but he spent all the money in 13 days on drugs; they also said they bought him a trailer that he parked at their house and an SUV in their own names, both of which ended up being sold. Bobbitt, who has admitted to struggling with drug abuse and has been in and out of rehab this year, has speculated the couple is spent the money on vacations (to Flori­da, Cali­for­nia and Las Vegas), gambling and that new BMW. D’Amico has also admitted to gambling some of the money, but said he repaid it quickly.