Karmelo Anthony was released from jail on Monday after a judge reduced his bond from $1 million to $250,000.
The 17-year-old made national headlines after he was arrested and charged in connection with the stabbing death of fellow teen Austin Metcalf during an altercation at a Frisco track meet on April 2.
In the wake of his arrest, an online fundraiser on GiveSendGo was launched on his behalf, and over $450,000 has since been raised for him. But in an interview with TMZ, the co-founder of the fundraising platform, Jacob Wells, revealed that Anthony had yet to receive the donated funds.
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Wells explained that money was yet to be transferred to the beneficiary because the company needed to get “clarity from the campaign recipient on use of funds so that the people that have given can be confident in how their donation is being used.”
Wells also stated that when a beneficiary receives a donation, it takes 72 hours before that individual can withdraw those funds. He said the recipient can withdraw the entire amount or a portion of it.
The GiveSendGo co-founder, however, explained that the company can pause certain campaigns to make sure it’s following the right verification and the company’s terms of service, TMZ reported.
He said a small fraction of the funds could likely be reserved to pay possible chargebacks and refunds as some high-profile campaigns experience these scenarios.
Wells touching on Anthony’s fundraiser reportedly came after people pondered on how he managed to post his $250,000 bond. Questions have additionally been asked about how his family has been able to pay his legal expenses.
Though the money is yet to be withdrawn, Wells said beneficiaries are entitled to the entire amount donated to them on GiveSendGo, adding that the company does not take any commissions whatsoever. He said donors are rather given the opportunity to render the site gifts to enable the company to run its services without charging users.
Fundraising campaigns have been set up on GiveSendGo for certain controversial figures including Luigi Mangione, Kyle Rittenhouse, and Derek Chauvin. And though people have registered their displeasure with the company for allowing Anthony’s fundraiser to remain on its platform, Wells explained that it is not in the company’s position to determine whether the teen is innocent or guilty.
He said that is the responsibility of the court.
