Contact: Beth Stone 508-584-8120
BROCKTON – A couple from Bridgewater has pleaded not guilty to charges related to a GoFundMe campaign they created to benefit an unhoused man and then refused to give him the thousands of dollars raised, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz has announced.
Brian G. Ferreira, 33, and Rachel Kadis, 31, both of Bridgewater, were arraigned today in Brockton District Court on one count each of Larceny Over $1,200 by False Pretenses, Embezzlement, and Conspiracy. They pleaded not guilty to the charges and Judge Michelle Fentress released Ferreira and Kadis on personal recognizance with the conditions that they surrender their passports, do not fundraise of any kind, and do not visit GoFundMe or other fundraising websites. The Commonwealth requested the pair be held on $10,000 cash with the conditions that were adopted, among others.
The arraignments follow an investigation by the Bridgewater Police Department. On June 8, the unhoused man reported to Bridgewater Police that Ferreira and Kadis were fraudulently raising money under a GoFundMe that they said was to benefit him, but the couple refused to give him the money. The man reported that there was approximately $18,000 raised, and that he did not receive any of it.
This past spring, the community of Bridgewater rallied around the man who was experiencing homelessness. On March 11, Kadis started a GoFundMe titled, “Support Greg’s Journey to Stability.” The campaign raised $17,800. On July 1, Greg passed away, not having received any of the funds.
After an investigation, it was determined that Ferreira and Kadis created the GoFundMe under the guise that it was for charitable purposes, but they kept the money raised in a personal account without giving Greg access.
As a result, Bridgewater Police filed for and received criminal complaints charging Ferreira and Kadis on June 29.
The pair are next scheduled to appear in court on October 9.