iradiophilly | News - Bobbitt and McClure Plead Guilty to GoFundMe Scam; Taco Bell Workers Beat Customer; 8 Gang Arrests

Streaming Radio for Philadelphia
More Music. Fewer Interruptions. Just what you want to hear.

FOLLOW:

News
Talk about what's in the news


The Post

Bobbitt and McClure Plead Guilty to GoFundMe Scam; Taco Bell Workers Beat Customer; 8 Gang Arrests

by: iradioal - Philadelphia, PA
started: 03/07/19 1:39 am | updated: 03/07/19 1:39 am

Homeless veteran Johnny Bobbitt and Kate McClure pled guilty on Wednesday, 3/6, to federal charges that they, along with McClure's ex-boyfriend Mark D'Amico, concocted a 'feel good' story to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars from the public in a GoFundMe scam. Bobbitt pled guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering and faces 10 years in prison. McClure pled guilty to wire fraud conspiracy and faces 20 years in prison. D'Amico is charged with theft by deception and conspiracy to commit theft by deception. All three still face state charges in New Jersey. Their story claimed that Bobbitt used his last $20 to buy gas for a stranded McClure. McClure and D'Amico then set up the fundraiser to help pay the 'Good Samaritan' back. Prosecutors say they found evidence the three knew each other for at least a month before the supposed roadside incident occurred. The campaign raised over $400,000. The couple spent most of the money themselves on trips and gambling. Bobbitt sued them because he wasn't getting his share. However, investigators looking into the finances discovered the whole scam.

UPDATE: 3/8/19 4:40 pm. On Friday, March 8th, Johnny Bobbitt pled guilty in a Burlington County courtroom to conspiracy to commit theft by deception. This was a New Jersey state charge. He was accepted into the county's drug court program and will be placed on special probation for up to five years. If he fails to comply with the conditions imposed in drug court, he will be sentenced to five years in New Jersey state prison. He faces 10 years on the federal charge.

Philadelphia Police are now investigating an incident caught on cellphone video from a Center City fast food restaurant supposedly showing restaurant workers attacking a customer and his girlfriend in the street. It happened at the Taco Bell located at 11th and Chestnut on February 24th around 10:45 p.m. The man who took the video, Joe Boback, and the man who was attacked, Bryan Reese, say they were in the store with other customers. They were waiting a very long time for their orders and had started to complain to the employees. Reese said the employees told them they were inundated with GrubHub orders, which took precedence. At some point the Taco Bell employees seemed to snap and jumped over the counter and followed Reese outside. The video shows six people in Taco Bell uniforms attacked him as he was being held down. Reese's girlfriend was also hit. Taco Bell has fired the employees and offered Reese a $20 gift card. He plans on filing charges.

Philly @tacobell employees gang together and beat up 2 innocent people in the street, aggravated assault. pic.twitter.com/zM4mxdnw5E
- Beasley (@throwdembows) March 5, 2019

Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced on Wednesday, 3/6, eight arrests that were the culmination of a year-long joint investigation into shootings between two Grays Ferry gangs. The 27th Street and 31th Street gangs have had a long standing feud going back years in Southwest Philadelphia. Between January 2017 through February 2018 the groups were responsible for 43 shooting incidents. 35 people were shot including a 12-year-old boy and 59-year-old woman. Three people were killed. Twenty-two-year-old Khalid Harrison and 20-year-old Mujihad Deen were arrested on Wednesday in connection with the Dec. 19, 2017 murder of 17-year-old Nasir Livingston. Twenty-two-year-old Markeshha Hines-Washington, 20-year-old Nasir Evans, 22-year-old Montez Burke, 21-year-old Alexis Hodge, and 21-year-old Galvison Morris were arrested on Wednesday in connection with the Dec. 27, 2017 double shooting in retaliation to the Dec. 19 homicide. Twenty-one-year-old Nyseem Smith was arrested on unrelated charges. The Attorney General's office, Philadelphia District Attorney, Philadelphia Police, and the Gun Violence Task Force were involved.