Fans of ‘altruistic’ felon raise $50,000 — but he asks them to stop

Aaron Tucker poses for a photo posted on social media, later used by supporters as part of a crowd funding campaign. Aaron Tucker poses for a photo posted on social media, later used by supporters as part of a crowd funding campaign. Photo: Contributed Photo / GoFundMe / Contributed Photo Photo: Contributed Photo / GoFundMe / Contributed Photo Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Fans of ‘altruistic’ felon raise $50,000 — but he asks them to stop 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

BRIDGEPORT—Aaron Tucker’s first week out of jail has had its ups and downs.

Last Wednesday, he missed a job interview after he chose to get off his bus to pull a man out of a crashed and smoking car. By Friday, the story had gone viral. Local TV stations interviewed him, the Associated Press carried the story, and CBS News picked it up.

From the halfway house that sets his curfew and screens his calls, Tucker learned that a Westport resident started a fundraising campaign for him after reading the story.

By Monday morning, the GoFundMe campaign had raised over $50,000 — well past the $15,000 goal originally mentioned on the site. The sum has since grown to over $58,000. He also received some tentative job offers.

But Tucker’s fortune became a slight burden as people started jockeying for the money online and in person, as he explained in a Facebook Live video post.

“You come home and you do one good deed, some things good start happening for you, everybody start crawling,” Tucker said. “Everybody start coming around like roaches. And that’s sad.”

Hearst Connecticut Media confirmed the authenticity of Tucker’s social media posts after a visit to the halfway house and an interview over the phone.

Worse yet, Tucker had evidence that someone tried to steal most of the money.

“Hi this is Aaron Tucker I want everyone to know that I am so grateful for all of the support may God be with you all,” he wrote on the GoFundMe page shortly before his video. “I am asking everyone to please stop sending donations because someone has broke into this account and tried to withdraw all of the funds.”

Tucker said that someone had tried unsuccessfully to take $44,000 out of the account. Because he stopped receiving emails at the same time, he suspected that someone had hacked his account. According to Tucker, the website froze withdrawals, so he should eventually get access to the money.

“I feel that no one should take the chances of losing their hard-earned money only when they are trying to do a kind thing,” he said.

Despite Tucker’s warning, another $2,500 had been donated within five hours.

“Aaron, your wonderful act of altruism and compassion are a true testament of the human spirit,” wrote a donor identified as Sharon North, who gave $60.

The Westport woman who started the page, Karin Dale, declined to comment on the breach. She has Tucker’s confidence, though.

“Karin Dale ... she’s the best in the world,” said Tucker. “I’ve never met anyone like this and I am really thankful for her coming into my life.”

Dale previously applauded Tucker’s action following the crash and told the Westport News that Tucker seemed like a “good guy who need a hand” that she hoped Westporters could help. She described how his kindness shows through in each conversation and Tucker brings everything back to caring for his young son. She added that town residents have gone beyond the GoFundMe effort to donate business clothes and help with resume writing and job preparation for all the residents at Tucker’s halfway home.

“What I have found amazing about this is it’s just not about Aaron anymore,” Dale said last week.

According to GoFundMe, the Westporter is working with the company to ensure the funds from her campaign reach their intended recipient.

“We have been working with (Dale and Tucker) to ensure that the funds end up in the right place,” said GoFundMe spokesman Bartlett Jackson. “The funds have not been withdrawn. We are working directly with (Tucker) and only he will have access to the funds.”

Tucker faces barriers to accessing the money.

He doesn’t have legal identification — like a driver’s license — that would allow him to withdraw the money, or open a new bank account. And he’s still brushing up on his computer skills.

“I spent half of my life in prison,” Tucker said in a video posted to his Facebook page Monday morning. “I don’t have no family, I don’t have no real friends. I got associates, and it looks like I’m starting to have family.”

He spent Monday afternoon getting a new Social Security card, a first step in getting a photo ID.

Tucker said he would like to use the money to start a small business and establish a college fund for his infant son, if the funds come through.

He is making new friends, and rebuilding his relationship with family members like his sister. In the end, it is not just the promise of a financial windfall that is helping Tucker, but reaffirmation of his dignity after so much time in prison.

“I want people to acknowledge my good,” he said in the video. “If you know me, you know that I was a bad dude. I knew guns ... I knew drugs.

“For the first time I realized that that doesn’t really matter,” he said. “I got a son now.”

This article was updated to include the statement from GoFundMe. Laura Weiss contributed reporting.

cattanasio@ctpost.com / @viacedar