Tue Sep 24 03:51:42 UTC 2024: ## Man Pleads Guilty to Stealing $65,000 from GoFundMe for Murder Victim’s Family
**Ballarat, Victoria** – A 26-year-old man, Lachlan Morganti, has pleaded guilty to stealing $65,000 from a GoFundMe fundraiser set up in memory of Hannah McGuire, a 23-year-old woman found dead in a burned-out car in April. The funds were intended for McGuire’s grieving family to assist with funeral expenses and other costs.
Morganti, who knew the McGuire family through the Clunes Cricket Club and their family-owned hotel, had set up the fundraiser and raised over $64,000. However, he confessed to transferring the money into his own account and gambling the entire amount within five days, attempting to recoup losses from other gambling debts.
The court heard that Morganti has been battling a gambling addiction since he was 18 and that he expressed deep remorse and shame for his actions. He has been seeking treatment for his addiction and has already returned the stolen funds to GoFundMe, though the McGuire family has not received any of the donations.
The prosecutor highlighted the devastating impact of Morganti’s actions, stating that it diverted attention away from the tragic loss of Hannah McGuire and added further pain to her family. The victim’s mother, Debbie McGuire, addressed Morganti directly in court, expressing her heartbreak and frustration over the theft.
Magistrate Michelle Mykytowycz described Morganti’s actions as “one of the most self-indulgent acts of greed I’ve ever seen” and a “breach of trust”. She acknowledged the immense suffering the family was enduring and emphasized that the theft added to their trauma.
Morganti will appear before the court next week for sentencing.
First Piper 