Here’s a real feel good story. (Not!)

Ah, the holiday season is upon us, and with it come not just the aisles of CVS full of bags of Christmas-themed M&Ms, Kisses, Reeses etc., but the columns of newspapers, the TV news, and social media full of feel good stories. Tear-jerking. Heart-warming. Wallet-opening

This ain’t one of them.

Last year, just about this time, a New Jersey couple put the word out on GoFundMe to raise some coin for a down on his luck person who had helped them out when they were in need.

As the story goes, Kate McClure, the female half of the couple, ran out of gas in Philadelphia and was stranded. A kindly homeless fellow,Johnny Bobbitt Jr. - I’m wondering if he’s any relation to the John Wayne Bobbitt, made famous in the early 1990’s when his wife Lorena took the kitchen shears to his private parts – stepped in and, with the only money he had, a twenty-dollar bill, bought gas for poor Kate. Then Kate and her boyfriend, Mike D’Amico, decided to do what they could to repay Johnny. They went public with their tale and raised $400K on GoFundMe to help Johnny restart his life.

Things began to unravel when Johnny decided to sue Kate and Mike, claiming that he hadn’t gotten as much money as he felt he deserved. Kate and Mike had given him some, but were dipping their own beaks. No fair! It was Johnny, after all, who was the hero of the story, the one who was the reason for all those folks opening their wallet to give Johnny a new life. And here were Kate and Mike using some of the dough to fund their regular old life. (Well, not exactly their regular old life. More like their fantasy life.)

I’m a regular giver to GoFundMe. I never give much – mostly $25 – but I’m a sucker for the cute puppy who needs surgery; the widow whose husband was killed by a drunk driver while heading to the hospital where she’d just given birth; the kid who will be able to see if only the family can raise $11K for some special glasses.

But this wasn’t one of of the good causes that this me decided to help go fund.

Turns out the story was One. Big. Fat. Lie.

There was no gas-less damsel in distress. No kindly homeless fellow willing to give up his only cash to help her out. No do-gooder couple who decided to go public with this charming story and turn the kindly homeless fellow’s life around.

Nope.

Just a couple of not-so-do-gooders who’d met up with a fellow fellow with larceny in his heart who concocted the get-rich-quick scheme.

All three have been charged with theft by deception and conspiracy to commit theft by deception. McClure and D’Amico surrendered and were released Wednesday; Bobbitt was arrested in Philadelphia and awaits extradition to New Jersey. (Source: WLOX)

Authorities believe that, if Johnny hadn’t sued Kate and Mike for “his share of the money” the trio might have gotten away with it. By the point that Johnny lawyered up, Kate and Mike had spent most of the money on trips and other luxuries (c.f., BMW) they couldn’t have afforded without relying on the kindness of strangers.

At first, the sympathy went Johnny’s way. Poor homeless guy, scammed by the couple.

GoFundMe stepped in and promised to make things good for him.

Then it was discovered that Johnny was in cahoots with Kate and Mike.

Now GoFundMe’s making good for those who donated, refunding the money they contributed. (Thankfully, I am not among the refundees.) And the trio are each facing up to 10 years in jail.

At least in jail they won’t have to worry about gas money,and they’ll all know where their next meal is coming from, where they’re going to spend the night.

Still, based on the homeless folks I know, they’d be happier homeless than in jail.

Anyway, Happy Holidays to Johnny, Kate and Mike!

And, especially this time of year, caveat donor.