ORANGE COUNTY, FL – Timothy Poole is Florida’s newest lottery winner, gaining $3 million from a scratcher ticket. But when his smiling photo hit the Internet, people realized he was much more than that. Poole is a registered sex offender who committed heinous crimes. Now, there’s a chance that he could live easy if he plays his cards right… which he probably won’t.
Poole has been arrested 12 times in Florida for charges as wide ranging as forging a check to grand theft. He’s also been caught stealing nearly $20,000 in food stamps from a store where he worked as a security guard. But his crime of sexual battery on a victim under 12-years-old was what landed him on the sex offender’s registry.
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Poole played the Super Millions scratch-off game which costs $20 a ticket. His winnings were awarded to him in a lump sum payment of $2,219,807. Once the Florida Lottery became aware of Poole’s past, they quickly took his photo down from the website.
People still shouldn’t let this worry them too much, if they thought that he’s going to get off easy. Most lottery winners blow all of their cash quickly. Some 70% of lottery winners end up being broke again. As it turns out, people who carelessly throw their money into lotteries are usually bad at managing their money. Poole already made a mistake in taking the lump sum, instead of the full payout. Florida is a no income tax state after all.
Some winners have even called their winnings a “curse.” $315 million Powerball winner Andrew “Jack” Whittaker said “I wish I’d torn that ticket up,” after he was robbed, sued, and lost his granddaughter to a drug overdose. William Post won $16.2 million and was $1 million in debt within a year. His own brother even put a hit out on him.
No, don’t feel bad that Poole is a winner, because no amount of money can change the fact that scum is scum and will always be scum. We’ll check on Mr Poole after a year and see how he’s doing. Anyone want to take a bet on how long that money lasts? I’ll give you you great odds. Send $1 to me for Poole’s pool and we’ll come back in a year and see how he’s doing.
