Michigan lotto winner charged with welfare fraud

rockin'robin · 04-17-2012, 11:18 AM

LINCOLN PARK, Mich. (AP) — A Michigan woman who continued to get food stamps after winning a $1 million lottery jackpot was arraigned Tuesday on welfare fraud charges.

Amanda Clayton, 25, of Lincoln Park was arrested on Monday. If convicted of the two felony charges, she could face up to four years in prison.

"It's simply common sense that million dollar lottery winners forfeit their right to public assistance," Attorney General Bill Schuette said in a statement Tuesday. "We will continue to work with local, state and federal authorities to uphold state laws intended to ensure wise stewardship of taxpayer dollars."

Clayton stood silently during her arraignment at Lincoln Park's 25th District Court. Defense lawyer Stanley Wise said he hopes to have charges dismissed at her next court hearing April 24. He didn't elaborate.

"She's upset but she'll be fine," Wise said.

Clayton chose a $700,000 lump sum, before taxes, last fall after winning the jackpot on "Make Me Rich!" a Michigan lottery game show.

The case came to light last month. She told Detroit TV station WDIV at the time that she thought it might have been OK to keep using food stamps because she wasn't working.

The state Department of Human Services has said it was Clayton's responsibility to report her dramatic change in wealth within 10 days. She was dropped from the food program.

Clayton wasn't the first Michigan lottery winner to keep public benefits. Last spring, a TV station reported that Leroy Fick, 60, of Bay County, was using the food program despite winning an $850,000 lump sum prize in 2010. He told state officials about his wealth but was allowed to temporarily keep his card because lump-sum windfalls at that time were not counted as regular income under the program.

The state has since banned anyone with assets of more than $5,000, excluding a car, from the food stamp program. That ban knocked Fick off the rolls.

Michigan lotto winner charged with welfare fraud - Yahoo! News

dereksbicycles · 04-22-2012, 09:15 AM

Good, I hope she will have to use all this lottery money for legal matters to help get her out of this mess. I hope she will have to use all this money, then be denied food stamp. Will be a poetic justice.

Steinhauer · 04-22-2012, 09:31 AM

Tousi · 04-22-2012, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dereksbicycles

Good, I hope she will have to use all this lottery money for legal matters to help get her out of this mess. I hope she will have to use all this money, then be denied food stamp. Will be a poetic justice.

And then end up right back on the welfare rolls.

**Foxrac** · 04-22-2012, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tousi

And then end up right back on the welfare rolls.

I think anyone convicted of fraud (it is crime) can't use welfare anymore.

C.C.Sinned · 04-22-2012, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Foxrac

I think anyone convicted of fraud (it is crime) can't use welfare anymore.

I sure hope so!

Tousi · 04-22-2012, 12:34 PM

I was just being facetious.....

rockin'robin · 04-22-2012, 12:41 PM

Believe if ur convicted of welfare fraud, you cannot collect Welfare Funds and also are refused Medicaid....HUD Housing, etc. ...but if ur Homeless, at least here in Florida, you still can collect $200/mo. in Food Stamps.

**Foxrac** · 04-22-2012, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockin'robin

Believe if ur convicted of welfare fraud, you cannot collect Welfare Funds and also are refused Medicaid....HUD Housing, etc. ...but if ur Homeless, at least here in Florida, you still can collect $200/mo. in Food Stamps.

That's correct, same goes with SSI/SSDI.

Not sure about food stamp, it sounds like depend on state.

Not just welfare fraud only but most convicted of other crimes are...

deafdyke · 04-22-2012, 06:45 PM

On the other hand, maybe a good idea might have been to have the person pay back the benifits from their windfall. It costs more to imprison someone then the loss from foodstamp fraud (which has gone down drasticly since they went to cards instead of stamps)

04-17-2012, 11:18 AM	#1 (permalink)
rockin'robin Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Jacksonville, Florida Posts: 15,299	Michigan lotto winner charged with welfare fraud LINCOLN PARK, Mich. (AP) — A Michigan woman who continued to get food stamps after winning a $1 million lottery jackpot was arraigned Tuesday on welfare fraud charges. Amanda Clayton, 25, of Lincoln Park was arrested on Monday. If convicted of the two felony charges, she could face up to four years in prison. "It's simply common sense that million dollar lottery winners forfeit their right to public assistance," Attorney General Bill Schuette said in a statement Tuesday. "We will continue to work with local, state and federal authorities to uphold state laws intended to ensure wise stewardship of taxpayer dollars." Clayton stood silently during her arraignment at Lincoln Park's 25th District Court. Defense lawyer Stanley Wise said he hopes to have charges dismissed at her next court hearing April 24. He didn't elaborate. "She's upset but she'll be fine," Wise said. Clayton chose a $700,000 lump sum, before taxes, last fall after winning the jackpot on "Make Me Rich!" a Michigan lottery game show. The case came to light last month. She told Detroit TV station WDIV at the time that she thought it might have been OK to keep using food stamps because she wasn't working. The state Department of Human Services has said it was Clayton's responsibility to report her dramatic change in wealth within 10 days. She was dropped from the food program. Clayton wasn't the first Michigan lottery winner to keep public benefits. Last spring, a TV station reported that Leroy Fick, 60, of Bay County, was using the food program despite winning an $850,000 lump sum prize in 2010. He told state officials about his wealth but was allowed to temporarily keep his card because lump-sum windfalls at that time were not counted as regular income under the program. The state has since banned anyone with assets of more than $5,000, excluding a car, from the food stamp program. That ban knocked Fick off the rolls. Michigan lotto winner charged with welfare fraud - Yahoo! News

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04-22-2012, 09:15 AM	#2 (permalink)
dereksbicycles Registered User Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: 60202 Posts: 3,804	Good, I hope she will have to use all this lottery money for legal matters to help get her out of this mess. I hope she will have to use all this money, then be denied food stamp. Will be a poetic justice.

04-22-2012, 09:31 AM	#3 (permalink)
Steinhauer Banned Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 8,191 Blog Entries: 1

04-22-2012, 12:34 PM	#7 (permalink)
Tousi Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 15,733	I was just being facetious.....

04-22-2012, 12:41 PM	#8 (permalink)
rockin'robin Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Jacksonville, Florida Posts: 15,299	Believe if ur convicted of welfare fraud, you cannot collect Welfare Funds and also are refused Medicaid....HUD Housing, etc. ...but if ur Homeless, at least here in Florida, you still can collect $200/mo. in Food Stamps.

04-22-2012, 06:45 PM	#10 (permalink)
deafdyke Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Trebekistan Posts: 13,088	On the other hand, maybe a good idea might have been to have the person pay back the benifits from their windfall. It costs more to imprison someone then the loss from foodstamp fraud (which has gone down drasticly since they went to cards instead of stamps)