Elyse Johnson (affluent beggar)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Elyse Johnson, with two children in tow, one holding a cane typically carried by blind people, approached my daughter and me outside Whole Foods in Alexandria on February 5th. She sounded convincing and gave us a GoFundMe site for donations. I made a donation and googled her afterwards. Wrong order. This family has been living off panhandling for many years. Who knows if this child ever had cancer. Ten years ago, they lived as "affluent beggars" in Oregon, have been sighted in the past five years all over the Northeast, often at Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, etc. I read that the GoFundMe site had an original goal of $20,000 and had raised $16,000 as of November 2015. It now has a goal of $50,000 and has raised $22,000, i.e., they have realized that this is a fantastic way to scam people. She has been at this for many years -- it is how she and her family make their living -- and she is very good at it.

I think her daughter actually had cancer as a toddler, which affected her vision. However, she must be in remission b/c she's practically a teenager.

The IRS should start monitoring gofundme and make people pay taxes on what is essentially their income.

[Anonymous]

If you think about it, they are still impoverished if they are only making $22K in the course of a year or maybe even longer.

[Anonymous]

she approached me at Harrison St. Safeway 3 years ago and just approached me again last Monday in front of Container Store in Clarendon. It was the son walking with the cane this time. Those kids are being taught terrible principles in life -the situation absolutely disgusts me.

[Anonymous]

You might find this article from the Seattle Times in 2006 of interest.

http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/affluent-beggars-draw-scrutiny-for-their-lifestyle/

[Anonymous]

The GoFundMe site indicates $22,000 raised in nearly four years, but ten years ago in Oregon, they were making $30,000 to $40,000 per year panhandling and they apparently also collect government subsidies of some sort. They travel up and down the Northeast corridor, don't see how the kids could be in school with this kind of lifestyle. Mother said in something I read that her daughter now requires only periodic scans, so what is the money going for?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Beggars use Facebook?

They also have AC, cable and drive a car.

Thanks hard working taxpayer!

[Anonymous]

THere are plenty of services for homeless and poor who vet the people receiving them. My tax dollars are my contribution to them.

[Anonymous]

What the hell? I wonder if they have been convicted of welfare fraud? The article with their pictures says they get $500 a month in snap benefits. (I know it's an old article.) Panhandling money is money that counts as income for snap ...

[Anonymous]

Is there anything they can be arrested for? Like when we see her, could we call the police? I'm more interested in pinning her down for a minute so the children's situation can be evaluated.

[Anonymous]

I am wondering if monies received fraudulently through GoFundMe can be considered wire fraud. Not sure.

[Anonymous]

Omg - she approached me outside of taqueria poblano in the lee Harrison shopping center in Arlington. I was so moved by her story. She told me her daughter had cancer and was blind. Her daughter was with her. I didn't have any cash but wanted to help, she gave me a note with the go fund me account info. I was feeling absolutely horrible and was so worried for them, it was freezing out the night she was out.

But something didn't sit right with me - after dinner my DS and I went over to the duck donuts to pick up something. For the next morning and they were there and the kids were acting nuts and it seemed like the little girl didn't use her cane. I just got an odd feeling and never donated but now I am so glad I didn't!!!!

[Anonymous]

I hope the authorities take these kids but I have a feeling it's too late to rehabilitate them. Just awful.

[Anonymous]

Maybe the kids will be able to grow up and get away from the parents and write a memoir, a la The Glass Castle. I would definitely read it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there anything they can be arrested for? Like when we see her, could we call the police? I'm more interested in pinning her down for a minute so the children's situation can be evaluated.

Do you think she would actually tell you the truth? This woman has been conducting the same fraud for at least a decade. She's not suddenly going to reform b/c you give her a piece of your mind.

You can call the non-emergency number if you she asks you for money though.

[Anonymous]

She stopped me today outside of a Providence RI Whole Foods. Told me about her daughter's brain cancer, that the girl is doing well now, but - I'm not sure what. I was somewhat stunned by her rambling story and that she was standing there with her daughter who held a sheet of paper close to her eyes and was writing or drawing on it, with her stick under her arm. It seemed like a strange way to deal with health care expenses, and having the sick, or formerly sick, girl there with her. I did give her money, and she gave me the sheet the girl was writing on - it was the gofundme flyer. And she told her daughter to thank me. A few minutes later when I was leaving the parking lot I saw her joyously (laughing, bouncing step) walking out of the lot with her arm around her daughter followed by an adolescent boy also laughing and eating something with a spoon from a container - looked like a pint of ice cream.