GoFundMe scammer given probation
MOUNT HOLLY, N.J. -- Johnny Bobbitt, the homeless veteran who admitted conspiring with a couple to scam the public out of $400,000 in donations by concocting a feel-good story about him helping a motorist in distress, was sentenced Friday to five years of probation.
Bobbitt had pleaded guilty in state court to conspiracy to commit theft by deception. Conditions of his sentence include inpatient drug treatment and cooperation with prosecutors against his co-defendants. If he violates those conditions, he will be sentenced to five years in prison with no possibility of parole for at least 18 months.
Prosecutors contend Bobbitt, Katelyn McClure and McClure's then-boyfriend, Mark D'Amico, made up the story in 2017 that he gave McClure $20 when she ran out of gas on a highway in Philadelphia.
Burlington County assistant prosecutor Andrew McDonnell said the three exhibited "deplorable behavior" intended "to pull at the heartstrings of caring, trusting individuals."
More than 14,000 donors contributed through GoFundMe, ostensibly to help Bobbitt. GoFundMe has said it refunded the donations.
Bobbitt and McClure each has pleaded guilty to one federal count of wire fraud conspiracy.
D'Amico, who has denied wrongdoing, doesn't face any federal charges. He and McClure were charged last fall in state court with theft and conspiracy.
U.S. won't appeal genital-cutting case
DETROIT -- The U.S. Justice Department won't appeal a decision by a Detroit federal judge who threw out female genital mutilation charges against members of a Muslim sect.
Solicitor General Noel Francisco calls it an "especially heinous practice." But in a letter to Congress, he said federal law banning such procedures needs to be changed to be constitutional under U.S. Supreme Court precedent.
Genital mutilation, also known as female circumcision or cutting, has been condemned by the United Nations.
Dr. Jumana Nagarwala was charged with performing it on nine girls at a suburban Detroit clinic, while others were charged with assisting her. She denies any crime and says she performed a religious custom for members of the India-based Dawoodi Bohra. The girls were from Illinois, Michigan and Minnesota.
In November, U.S. District Judge Bernard Friedman said the ban was unconstitutional. He said Congress lacked authority to attack the practice under the Commerce Clause because the procedure is not a commercial activity.
Nagarwala, who was arrested in 2017, and three other people still face additional charges, including conspiracy to obstruct law enforcement officials.
Boy, 5, falls 3 stories at mall; suspect held
MINNEAPOLIS -- A 5-year-old boy plummeted three floors Friday after being pushed or thrown from a balcony at the Mall of America, according to witnesses, and police said a 24-year-old man was in custody.
Bloomington Police Chief Jeffrey Potts said police don't think there is any relationship between the man and the family of the child, who suffered life-threatening injuries. He was being treated at a hospital, but no details on his condition were immediately available.
Potts said the suspect immediately ran but was quickly found and arrested at the mall. Emmanuel Deshawn Aranda of Minneapolis was being held on a charge of attempted homicide.
Aranda's criminal record includes two convictions in 2015 for obstruction of the legal process/interfering with a peace officer, as well as convictions for fifth-degree assault, trespassing and damage to property.
Police don't have an idea about a possible motive, Potts said.
Prosecutor invites Smollett case review
CHICAGO -- The Cook County state's attorney said Friday that she has asked the county's inspector general to review how her office handled Empire actor Jussie Smollett's criminal case.
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and others have criticized the decision by Kim Foxx's office to drop charges against Smollett accusing him of filing a false report to police that he was the victim of an attack in January.
"Ensuring that I and my office have the community's trust and confidence is paramount to me, which is why I invited an independent review of this matter," Foxx said in a statement. "I welcome this investigation and pledge my full cooperation and the cooperation of my office."
A grand jury indicted the actor on 16 counts in early March. Foxx's office dropped the charges about three weeks later, giving no detailed explanation. Smollett has maintained his innocence and insisted he was attacked.
Patrick Blanchard, the Cook County independent inspector general, said that his office would proceed with the review.
The city filed a civil lawsuit Thursday in Cook County court against Smollett, who is black and gay, to recoup the costs of investigating his claim that masked men beat him, shouted racial and anti-gay slurs and wrapped a rope around his neck. Smollett refused the city's demand that he repay it $130,106.
-- Compiled by Democrat-Gazette staff from wire reports
A Section on 04/13/2019