A recent lottery winner in Ontario got an extra on top of the multi-million dollar cheque: a free arrest:
Some guys have all the luck.
That’s what Barry Shell of Brampton likely thought Monday when he went to pick up his nearly $4.4 million jackpot at Ontario Lottery and Gaming headquarters on Dundas St. W.
But after a smiling Shell, 45, had posed for an OLG photo holding his cheque for $4,377,298, he was arrested outside the building on outstanding criminal charges and taken into police custody.
The most interesting part, however, was this statement from the lottery officials:
Asked how a lottery win could result in the discovery of outstanding warrants, Rui Brum from OLG said last night: “A rigorous investigation process is followed any time a prize is claimed.
“Any flags that are raised are immediately forwarded to the OPP Bureau attached to the AGCO (the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario) for further investigation.”
H/T to Jon, who said “come to attention in the media or in some other way, and the state starts looking into you.”
Well at least he will have the money to pay for a good lawyer.
He probably won’t spend more than a day or so in jail.
Comment by Clive — July 22, 2009 @ 14:09
You’re probably right. He’ll get credit for time served, reducing his sentence to something the judge won’t feel comfortable imposing, so it’ll be suspended instead.
Comment by Nicholas — July 22, 2009 @ 14:16