Mich. lottery winner on welfare gets probation

In this photo provided by the Michigan Lottery, Amanda Clayton holds her $1 million lottery check. The state says Clayton who won a $1 million lottery prize but continued to get food stamps has been removed from a food assistance program. / AP Photo/Courtesy Michigan Lottery via Detroit news

(AP) DETROIT - A Detroit-area woman who collected welfare despite winning a $735,000 lottery prize has been sentenced to probation.

Attorney Todd Flood says Amanda Clayton has repaid about $5,500 in food aid and medical benefits. The 24-year-old pleaded no contest to fraud last month and was placed on probation Tuesday for nine months.

Amanda Clayton, Michigan lottery winner, charged with welfare fraud
$1M lotto winner cut from food assistance

The Michigan Department of Human Services says Clayton didn't inform the state about her pre-tax lottery windfall of $735,000 last year. Flood says Clayton did make an attempt but decided not to fight the case and move on with her life.

Gov. Rick Snyder signed a law in April that requires lottery officials to tell the Department of Human Services about new winners.

[linfinster]

$5500 over payment for +/-5 months of welfare benefits? How many children does she have?? I guarantee this money will all be blown within a year! I've seen it happen many times in my office.

[djseavy]

She was caught in March, and that is the impetus behind the new notification law. I agree that there should have seen more than nine months of probation. Granted, she repaid the money, but she did the crime. At least some community service or something.

[johngaltwho]

How is it that when someone is caught in a crime, their punishment is to make reparation? That is not punishment. That's like someone who robs a bank, gets caught, and is forced to return the money. It's ludicrous.

[jwilsonte5]

she did pay $265,000.00 taxes on her $1,000,000 win lol

[raymailhot]

She paid it back? That is as ethical as the sec of treasury timothy geithner paying his back taxes after getting caught. I guess precedent was set?

[ReckonedTruth]

o gee.. a million dollar lottery winner..on food stamps and FREE medical..and kept her WELFARE checks? Again not surprized who are the
majority committing welfare fraud.

probation is a slap on the wrist..and if the state authorized "the Lottery" to report all winners to the Dept of Human Services.. if she cashed in after April.. what she did warrants more than probation and/or returned payments..

.. (shelf imposed privilege-thievery)is sending this nation down the toilet..



noturprized at all (greed is
reed is runing this nation) (put on probation is SLAP on the wrist..