A LIE, ALL A LIE. THE FEEL-GOOD STORY OF THE YEAR WAS BASED ON NOTHING BUT DECEPTION, DUPLICITY AND GREED. AND HOW WAS THE DECEIT UNCOVERED? BECAUSE THE FRAUDSTERS FELL OUT OVER MONEY.

A lie, all a lie.

The feel-good story of the year was based on deception, duplicity and greed. And how was the deceit uncovered? Because the fraudsters fell out over money.

It was money that was at the start of the con game. Johnny Bobbitt — a homeless man and former Marine (both true) — allegedly used his last US$20 to buy gas for motorist Katelyn McClure when she found herself stranded and out of money in one of the tougher areas of Philadelphia.

She was touched by his selfless generosity.

“Truly believe that all Johnny needs is one little break,” McClure said as she started a fundraiser for Bobbitt on GoFundMe in November last year.

The money poured in. Within three weeks, US$403,000 had been raised.

“He will never have to worry about a roof over his head again!!” said McClure and her boyfriend Mark D’Amico.

But things quickly started to sour.

In August this year, Bobbitt went public with a number of complaints: He was never given a home, just a camper; he was never allowed access to the money; he wondered how the couple afforded a new BMW, vacations in California, Florida and gambling in Las Vegas.

Homeless advocates put Bobbitt in touch with lawyers. The police got involved.

Then, on Thursday: “The entire (GoFundMe) campaign was predicated on a lie,” said Scott Coffina, prosecutor for Burlington County, New Jersey. “It was fictitious, illegal and there are consequences.”

Bobbitt was arrested Wednesday night by U.S. marshals in Philadelphia and remained in custody Thursday.

D’Amico and McClure surrendered to authorities Wednesday night and were released.

All are charged with theft by deception and conspiring to commit theft by deception.

“She did not run out of gas on an I-95 off-ramp, and he did not spend his last $20 to help her. Rather, D’Amico, McClure and Bobbitt conspired to fabricate and promote a feel-good story that would compel donors to contribute to their cause,” said Coffina.

Authorities believe the three met at least a month before the campaign was launched, possibly on one of the many trips McClure and D’Amico made to a casino. Bobbitt used to stay near a highway off-ramp that led to the casino,

Bobbitt later said he received about US$75,000 of the money.

Officials believe McClure and D’Amico squandered the rest of the money on a BMW, a New Year’s trip to Las Vegas, high-end handbags, and a total of US$85,000 was withdrawn at casinos located in Atlantic City, Bensalem, and Philadelphia.

On Thursday, GoFundMe said all the people who contributed to the campaign would be fully refunded.