Woman gets three years’ jail in bogus US good Samaritan online fundraiser

This photo provided by Burlington County Prosecutor office shows Katelyn McClure. McClure, who pleaded guilty to helping her boyfriend spread a feel-good story about a homeless veteran that garnered more than US$400,000 in online donations has been sentenced to three years in prison on state theft charges on Jan 6, 2023 in the Mount Holly, N.J. courtroom. — Burlington County Prosecutor office via AP

MOUNT HOLLY, New Jersey: A New Jersey woman who pleaded guilty to helping her boyfriend spread a feel-good story about a homeless veteran that garnered more than US$400,000 (RM1.75mil) in online donations has been sentenced to three years in prison on state theft charges.

Burlington County prosecutors say Katelyn McClure, 32, wasn’t present in the Mount Holly courtroom Friday because she is serving a one-year federal term in the case. Her state prison term will run concurrently and the former transportation department worker will be barred from ever working again as a New Jersey public employee.