MASSACHUSETTS, USA–Luck takes an ugly turn for a winner with a $1 million lottery ticket. He happens to be a convicted bank robber, and he’s not supposed to gamble according to the terms of his probation. On December 7th, Timothy Elliott now must face a judge who’ll decide whether he violated his probation when he bought the $10 ticket for the $800 Million Spectacular game.
The 55-year-old is on five years’ probation after pleading guilty to unarmed robbery at a bank in Cape Cod. His probation dictates he “may not gamble, purchase lottery tickets or visit an establishment where gaming is conducted, including restaurants where Keno may be played.”
Elliott has actually already collected the first of 20 annual $50,000 checks from the state. A picture of Elliott holding his first check appeared on the lottery’s Web site Monday, then by Wednesday.
Elliott has also been under the supervision of the Massachusetts Mental Health Department. This is also a condition of his probation.
The lottery routinely checks the names of winners with the state Revenue Department to see if they owe back taxes or child support. Winnings go straight to the state in those cases.
The court will determine what happens with Elliott’s winnings.
UPDATE: ELLIOT’S HEARING RESCHEDULED FOR JANUARY 18, 2008.
UPDATE: Courtesy of Phil at http://numberspicker.com . “Looks like Timothy Elliott can keep his winnings even though he violated probation. I don´t know the details, but I think the judge took the right decision. Everybody deserves a second chance.”
Filed under: Dumb Criminals, News Headlines | Tagged: Bad Luck, Lottery, Million, Robber
Okay I am not a fan of lotteries, but this is just sad. An obviously desperate man, robs a bank without a weapon at the age of 54? AND he looks like Santa! And it’s Christmastime and almost Hanukkah. Give him the frickin’ money.
So he violated the terms of his probation when he bought the $10 lottery ticket. I don´t know what the consequences might be, but I´m pretty sure they (the government) won´t confiscate his winnings.
OK, he did something that he was not supposed to do.
The fact that he won a lot is another story.
Imagine people on probation gambling, and when they lose claim their losses back from the government.
…
Suppose they confiscate his winnings, do you think they will give him his initial 10$ back ?
Fat chance. He has a hearing coming up though. I’ll keep you posted.
Hi Melissa,
Looks like Timothy Elliott can keep his winnings even though he violated probation.
I don´t know the details, but I think the judge took the right decision.
Everybody deserves a second chance.
Phil
Thanks for the update Phil!