Lottery Winner Could Lose $1 Million Prize UPDATE He gets to keep the money

[sws4420]

http://img.viacomlocalnetworks.com/images_sizedimage_332072059/lg

(WBZ) HYANNIS A Cape Cod man won $1 million in the state lottery - and he might not be able to collect any of it.

Timothy Elliot of Hyannis had robbed two banks in the past and was not eligible to buy lottery tickets, according to a published report.

Elliot bought a $10 ticket for the $800 Million Spectacular instant game at Stop and Shop in Hyannis. He picked up the first of 20 annuity checks for $50,000 before taxes on Monday at lottery headquarters in Braintree.

A law enforcement source told the Cape Cod Times on Tuesday that Elliot had pleaded guilty to robbing banks in February 2001 and January 2006. After each robbery he was sent to a mental hospital.

After the 2006 robbery, the paper says Barnstable Superior Court Judge Gary Nickerson told Elliot that as part of his probation he was not allowed to "gamble, purchase lottery tickets, or visit establishments where gaming is conducted including restaurants where Keno may be played."

It's now up to a judge to decide if Elliot gets to keep the money.

A Barnstable District Court probation officer told the Times a judge could decide to do nothing or punish him - even possibly sending him to jail for violating his probation.


http://wbztv.com/topstories/local_story_332071549.html

[sagitar121]

wow that sucks!

[Crystal]

I hope they allow him to keep it.

[sws4420]

Me too.

And I hope he gets full access to it after he gets out of jail for violating his probation.

[MedicCook]

My guess is that he will lose the money and go to jail. They can not let him violate his terms of paraole and expect to try and enforce others to theirs.

[Crystal]

He didn't go to jail for either of the robberies he went to a mental facility, which to me means that he is a mental case, and I'd like to see him keep the money. :whistle: AT least then he wouldn't have to rob another bank. :rotflmao:

[MedicCook]

He didn't go to jail for either of the robberies he went to a mental facility, which to me means that he is a mental case, and I'd like to see him keep the money. :whistle: AT least then he wouldn't have to rob another bank. :rotflmao:

But he is still a criminal and still needs to follow the guidelines set out in his release. That is why there is probation. Since the mental facility did not seem to work maybe this time he just needs to go to jail.

[MERV]

He didn't go to jail for either of the robberies he went to a mental facility, which to me means that he is a mental case, and I'd like to see him keep the money. :whistle: AT least then he wouldn't have to rob another bank. :rotflmao:

His probation outlined no gambling, and he violated it. He should lose the money, and go to jail.

[sws4420]

His probation outlined no gambling, and he violated it. He should lose the money, and go to jail.And get raped by Bubba.

http://middleground2.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/.pond/gonnagetraped_001.jpg.w300h386.jpg

[MedicCook]

Don't drop the soap!!

[MedicCook]

Robber on probation can keep $1M jackpot

BARNSTABLE, Mass. -- The luck keeps rolling for a convicted bank robber who won a $1 million lottery prize: Though he violated his probation by buying the ticket, a judge says he can keep the money.

A lawyer for Timothy Elliott, 55, called the violation minor, and the Massachusetts lottery commission previously has said there was no basis for withdrawing the prize.

Barnstable Superior Court Judge Richard Connon on Friday approved the probation department's agreement that he could keep the winnings. The only change is that Elliott now must pay a monthly $65 probation supervisory fee, previously waived because he had been indigent.

Elliott declined to comment Friday. He lives in Bourne under the supervision of the Department of Mental Health.

Probation department spokeswoman Coria Holland would not comment further on the case.

In October 2006, Elliott pleaded guilty to unarmed robbery for a heist at a bank on Cape Cod and was placed on five years' probation. The terms required him to not "gamble, purchase lottery tickets or visit an establishment where gaming is conducted ..."

The jackpot was won on $10 ticket for the "$800 Million Spectacular" game that Elliott bought at a supermarket in Hyannis. He already has received the first of 20 annual $50,000 checks from the lottery commission.

http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=642712&category=Strange%20News&BCCode=STRANGENEWS&newsdate=1/18/2008

[Crystal]

:cheer:

[MedicCook]

I do not agree with this. He obtained the money in the process of commiting a crime. The money should be seized by the State.

[Crystal]

I'm happy for him.

[MedicCook]

I hope he gets hit by a bus.

[Crystal]

That was a really rotten thing to say Ryan.

Well at least he has no need for robbing anymore banks. :whistle:

[MedicCook]

They have now set a precident with this and anyone who receives a financial gain while commiting a crime should be allowed to keep the money.

[Crystal]

He could have easily given it to one of his friends/family members and had them cash it for him. At least he was honest.

[sws4420]

It's cool he gets to keep it, but he did break the law in purchasing the ticket.

[Thomas the Solitary]

He could have easily given it to one of his friends/family members and had them cash it for him. At least he was honest.
I think it's less honest, and more "just plain stupid".

heh... personally, I think they should send the money to me.

Why not?

[Crystal]

I think it's less honest, and more "just plain stupid".

heh... personally, I think they should send the money to me.

Why not?

or me.

[MedicCook]

I still think the money should be taken by the state and placed back into the fund for the schools.
He should also be arrested for probation violation and have his probation revoked and fulfill the rest of his jail term.

[Thomas the Solitary]

I still think the money should be taken by the state and placed back into the fund for the schools.
He should also be arrested for probation violation and have his probation revoked and fulfill the rest of his jail term.

I agree with the second statement, but not sure about the state taking the money. Not sure, but something just doesn't feel right, both ways -- in other words, I don't like him having it, nor do I like the state taking it.

Good thing I don't have to worry about that kind of decision, huh? :giggles:

[MedicCook]

I agree with the second statement, but not sure about the state taking the money. Not sure, but something just doesn't feel right, both ways -- in other words, I don't like him having it, nor do I like the state taking it.

Good thing I don't have to worry about that kind of decision, huh? :giggles:

If he robbed another bank he would have to give the money back. What if he went to OTB and won a million on a horse or won a million on the craps table? All of those are also forms of breaking his probation. Should he get to keep the money in those situations also? It is not like he might have been confused thinking that the lottery was or was not gambeling becasue they actually stated he is prohibited from buying lottery tickets.

[Cutesunshine]

He didnt even serve jail time for robbing the banks, so having him serve jail time for violating probation for robbing a bank a 2 years ago is kinda silly. Wonder how long his probation was for. Wonder what his circumstances of robbing the banks were. Gambling debt?

Either way I think its pretty cool that a guy who obviously was having a hard time financially got a break and gets to keep the money. I totally think they should attach some type of clause to it where he has to volunteer weekly as part of additional probation, or donate a percentage of it to a non profit agency of his choice. But Its cool.

[Crystal]

Either way I think its pretty cool that a guy who obviously was having a hard time financially got a break and gets to keep the money. I totally think they should attach some type of clause to it where he has to volunteer weekly as part of additional probation, or donate a percentage of it to a non profit agency of his choice. But Its cool.

I'm glad someone agree's with me. It's nice to see poor people catch a break.

[Cutesunshine]

There's other ways of punishing people than tossing them back into a prison system for buying a stupid lottery ticket. Its not like he rigged it to make sure his numbers were drawn. It was his luck... and he deserves it. Like I said, he should have to give some of it away, and volunteer somewhere.

[sws4420]

I'm pretty sure he'll end up being one of those stories about people who actually ruin their lives with their lotto winnings.

[Cutesunshine]

Not anyone elses problem but his own. He's under state supervision cause of his mental disease. Isn't their finances managed?

[sws4420]

I think so. I wonder if he'll even be able to touch the money.

[Cutesunshine]

Maybe thats why the judge said he could have it.

[Crystal]

I think he has to pay like $65 a week restitition it says..Maybe they figured with that kind of money he could get into a better metal facility...

[sws4420]

I think he has to pay like $65 a week restitition it says..Maybe they figured with that kind of money he could get into a better metal facility...Or even a mental one.

[Hockey2006]

So what if he doesn't have to rob banks anymore now? Winning the lotto shouldn't be motivation for not robbing banks, it should just be the fact that you know it's bad.

If you break the law to do something, there really isn't a reason why you should deserve it, unless you were preventing an even worse thing by doing so.

[Crystal]

Or even a mental one.

that to, lol