Richie’s Randazzo’s counterpart
Remember Richie Randazzo? He’s the guy that used to work as a doorman in New York City – until he won the lottery, kept his job, got a little lazy about showing up, and got fired.
Ray Otero can’t stand to hear that story.
Otero is the building superintendent at an apartment complex across the street from where Randazzo used to work. Randazzo, the guy that won, hardly spent any money on lottery tickets. Otero, on the other hand, spends $500 to $700 per week. And he is still a loser.
Otero says that working a regular job is “a sucker’s game” and hopes that the lottery will give him the entry into an easier life for him and his family. He did win a couple thousand dollars once – but guess what he spent that money on. You guessed it, more tickets.
He doesn’t see his gambling as a disease or an addiction. “It’s destiny”, he says.
Another lottery winner goes to prison
Thomas Turnour won $10 million in the California SuperLotto game. Unfortunately, becoming wealthy doesn’t prevent you from doing stupid things.
Turnour was driving his pickup truck, drunk, and smashed into the back of a car that was stopped at a red light. The impact of the crash pushed the car into two other vehicles, and three people were killed.
Turnour pleaded guilty gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, and also to the charge of causing injury while driving intoxicated. He was sentenced to more than 17 years in prison.
In addition, he was sued by the victims’ families, and settled that lawsuit for more than $2 million.
From Lottery multimillionaire to federal prisoner
Rhoda Toth’s life has been like a roller coaster.
First, she won $13 million in the Florida Lottery. Then she behaved seemingly without benefit of the thought process; she and her husband filed false tax returns for several years to avoid paying federal income tax on the winnings (Toth’s husband, Alex, has since passed away).
When charged with the crime, Toth was determined to have no assets. The only electricity she had was from an extension cord hooked to their car engine (how does that even work?). Her claim was the standard one of lottery winners who don’t know how to manage their money: it was all spent on gambling, giving gifts to family and friends, and just generally living it up.
She has been ordered to pay the IRS back taxes of $1.1 million, at a rate of $100 per month (starting after her release from prison). Yeah, that’s a debt that will be paid of in no time.
9/11 widow loses millions
Kathy Trant has had a double tragedy.
First, she tragically lost her husband on 9/11. Her husband Dan was killed in the World Trade Center attack.
As compensation, she received a large settlement and chose to receive it in all cash: $5 million in a one-time payment. Sadly, she did not seek advice or use judgment with the money.
She spent about $2 million on her home on Long Island, traveled the world, spent as much as $500,000 on shoes, and bought cosmetic surgery for her friends, or even for strangers. In less than 4 years, she has spent nearly all the money.
She describes herself as a “shopoholic”, and feels intense shame, sadness and guilt.
Definition of injustice: repeat RAPIST wins lottery
If there is anyone in the world that is not deserving of lottery winnings, it is Iorworth Hoare.
Iorworth Hoare
Hoare has spent roughly 30 years in prison since 1973, after being convicted of one rape, three attempted rapes, and two indecent assaults. Now he is out of prison, and he won the lottery. How much did he win? In excess of US$14 million.
Now, because of his criminal record, he is restricted to only receiving about US$17,000 per month from his winnings. He is filing a case to give him access to the rest of his money. At that point he wants to emigrate to France, where he would be able to walk around as a free man.
Hoare owns a home in England valued at around US$2 million, and has also invested much of his money in antiques.
Who votes that he gets put back in prison, and his money donated to various orphanages around the world?