Mich. lottery winner to plead guilty to felony firearm charges

Jul 26, 2012, 8:38 am (57 comments)

Michigan Lottery

Man previously under fire for claiming welfare benefits after lottery win

BAY CITY, Mich. — A Williams Township, Michigan, man who had nearly $1 million in cash two years ago and is now destitute and charged with four firearm-related felonies is set to accept a plea deal in Bay County Circuit Court.

Leroy N. Fick, 60, is scheduled to make his plea before Circuit Judge Kenneth W. Schmidt at 8:30 a.m. on Sept. 4. Court records show that prosecutors have offered to dismiss two counts of felony firearm if Fick pleads guilty or no contest to single counts of felon in possession of a firearm and larceny of a firearm.

Both of the charges Fick could plead to are felonies punishable by up to five years in prison. Prosecutors have agreed not to seek an enhanced sentencing for Fick as a habitual offender, court records show.

The charges stem from Fick allegedly stealing several rifles and shotguns from his mother's Williams Township home, then hocking them at an area pawn shop. Fick's brother reported the theft in March and Fick was arraigned in June.

When Bay County Sheriff's deputies questioned Fick about the crime, he told them stole then sold the guns for cash to keep his electricity on, police reports show.

Fick in June 2010 won close to $2 million in the state's Make Me Rich! lottery. He took a lump, post-tax sum of $998,570 and appeared alongside adult son Jeffery Fick on the TLC show "Lottery Changed My Life."

The elder Fick later found himself in the center of controversy when he admitted he continued using his Bridge Card after winning the lottery.

Fick's actions inspired legislators to fashion a new law requiring the Michigan Lottery to notify the Department of Human Services of the name and other information of a winner of a prize of $1,000 or more. DHS is then to apply an asset test when determining eligibility of an individual for food aid, with gambling winnings factored into the asset total.

Gov. Rick Snyder signed the bills into law in April.

In January, Fick pleaded guilty to a felony charge of illegal possession of a prescription painkiller in Isabella County Circuit Court, for which he served 45 days in jail. Upon his release, he appeared in Bay County District Court and pleaded guilty to three counts of illegal possession of fireworks, three counts of operating a motor vehicle on a restricted license and single counts of operating a motor vehicle on a restricted license, second offense, allowing an unlicensed person to drive and driving 97 mph in a 55 mph zone.

Judge Dawn A. Klida gave Fick credit for time served, but also placed him on probation.

By the time he pleaded in Isabella County, Fick had squandered his fortune and was living what his attorney John Wilson described as a hand-to-mouth existence. Fick spent his winnings on building a new house on the site of his previous home, a brand new Chevrolet Camaro, large amounts of fireworks and ill-advised investments recommended to him by his relatives and friends, Wilson said.

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Comments

sully16's avatarsully16

He can team up with Amanda Clayton, they can have a weekly show called

" HOW TO SCAM THE SYSTEM"

zinniagirl's avatarzinniagirl

This close to "retirement" age and no financial plannning.   He could have been set with careful budgeting and wise investing.   Never let friends and family do your financial investing.

Cletu$2's avatarCletu$2

Stealing from his own mother!How low can you get?Its too darn late to abort this waste of life.

mcginnin56

With all the thousands of welfare recipients, turned lottery winners, turned welfare cheats.....they should start their own welfare scamming club!  Idea

 

loonasee2's avatarloonasee2

What goes around ,comes around. You cheat you'll get cheated.What goes up will come back down.Bad boys ,bad boys what ya gonna do when they come for you..

I think they should pass a bill / law ,......if your not current on any of your bills , and you win big ,.........you have to become current to collect your prize by setting aside enough to cover your delinquency.And all government and state programs your on are terminated . Then go blow it.

RedStang's avatarRedStang

Where's his loser son now that the money is gone. Can't even help his dad pay the electric.

OldSchoolPa's avatarOldSchoolPa

I would say, "Don't let unlicensed friend or family handle your investments. "

Littleoldlady's avatarLittleoldlady

What were all of the fireworks for?  He must be a little on the slow side.

hearsetrax's avatarhearsetrax

Quote: Originally posted by OldSchoolPa on Jul 26, 2012

I would say, "Don't let unlicensed friend or family handle your investments. "

Yes Nod

maximumfun's avatarmaximumfun

This 'gentleman' is a poster-child for why the Lotteries should WANT anonymous winners.  The failures, while making good copy, really show the down side of a lottery win... and make the 'winning' part look WAY not so glamorous.

mcginnin56

Quote: Originally posted by Littleoldlady on Jul 26, 2012

What were all of the fireworks for?  He must be a little on the slow side.

I was thinking the same thing. He spent thousands on illegal fireworks, and received numerous fines for this juvenile behavior.

Must be some obsession, or just hasn't moved on from his teen fantasy's. Or as you say just a little slow.  Clown

Seattlejohn

This guy looks familiar... if I'm not mistaken, he was on "Lottery Changed My Life", as a "millionaire bachelor".  I seem to remember his fast talking slick "Mr. hip hop" son who said such stupidities as "Who can you trust? ME!  That's who; me!" to his dad when on camera...

dpoly1's avatardpoly1

YIKES! Crazy

mcginnin56

Quote: Originally posted by Seattlejohn on Jul 26, 2012

This guy looks familiar... if I'm not mistaken, he was on "Lottery Changed My Life", as a "millionaire bachelor".  I seem to remember his fast talking slick "Mr. hip hop" son who said such stupidities as "Who can you trust? ME!  That's who; me!" to his dad when on camera...

That was him! Of course his drug addict son is nowhere to be found, now the dad is in the poor house. Crying

LottoGuyBC's avatarLottoGuyBC

American Greed Special

'Lottery Scammers'

RL-RANDOMLOGIC

This sort of thing shows the decline of america values in action.  Here are two videos that show the riff

taking place.  Choose your video, you can't be both.

   

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6TcpfBHlbs

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwEhBlabaV8&feature=related

RL

IPlayWeekly's avatarIPlayWeekly

Very sad story but I knew he'd be broke within a few years.  His son was spending dad's money while storing items that he was claiming to open a pawn shop with in a cheap motel.  You can't buy class or smarts, both father and son are loosers.

faber98

if your mother named you leroy you would want to spend your whole life trying to get even with her too. some sixty years ago she had a baby boy and decided to name him leroy thus marking him for life. didn't she know the ramifications of that name would haunt him forever, especially in his formative years.

dallascowboyfan's avatardallascowboyfan

Quote: Originally posted by sully16 on Jul 26, 2012

He can team up with Amanda Clayton, they can have a weekly show called

" HOW TO SCAM THE SYSTEM"

Green laugh

rdgrnr's avatarrdgrnr

He's his own worst enemy.

rdgrnr's avatarrdgrnr

If there's a silver lining to this story it's this -- Fick will be in jail on election day so he won't be able to vote.

Thank God for small favors.

DC81's avatarDC81

Quote: Originally posted by RedStang on Jul 26, 2012

Where's his loser son now that the money is gone. Can't even help his dad pay the electric.

Probably still in jail for carjacking an elderly man.

Leroy likes to go to the reservation in Mount Pleasant to buy fireworks, he also liked illegally obtained painkillers.

desert's avatardesert

I'm trying to wrap my brain around this. Almost $1,000,000 in winnings and now it's GONE, in two short years?

I recall the lottery show that highlighted Mr Fick and was dumbfounded at the arrogance and stupidity of the both of them, father and son. Does Mr Fick, at the least, still have the home he had built or was he forced to sell it?

My guess is Mr Fick and Son will go down in the annals of lottery winners in the same breath as David Lee Edwards and Jack Whittaker.

mcginnin56

Quote: Originally posted by desert on Jul 27, 2012

I'm trying to wrap my brain around this. Almost $1,000,000 in winnings and now it's GONE, in two short years?

I recall the lottery show that highlighted Mr Fick and was dumbfounded at the arrogance and stupidity of the both of them, father and son. Does Mr Fick, at the least, still have the home he had built or was he forced to sell it?

My guess is Mr Fick and Son will go down in the annals of lottery winners in the same breath as David Lee Edwards and Jack Whittaker.

I Agree!

liberal47's avatarliberal47

His dumbassed son sure did help blow the cash. I have never seen a parasite like this guys son. Totally stupid and willing to show and tell the world just how dumb he is. I feel sorry for the elder Fick and family, but a little education and common sense goes a long way.

Gopher701

As a Vietnam veteran I hope this loser would cease wearing a Vietnam veteran's hat.

He is a disgrace to whatever service branch her served.

He probably gets his medical care at the VA using resourses that should be used by people who care.

mcginnin56

Quote: Originally posted by Gopher701 on Jul 27, 2012

As a Vietnam veteran I hope this loser would cease wearing a Vietnam veteran's hat.

He is a disgrace to whatever service branch her served.

He probably gets his medical care at the VA using resourses that should be used by people who care.

I was going to mention that observation yesterday, but I didn't want to offend any vets out there.

His picture was probably taken while in the courtroom, which is why he probably wore it at the time, to evoke some sympathy from the judge.

Jill34786's avatarJill34786

Here is a clip of Leroy Fick and his son. I enjoyed the scene where he damaged his new Camaro before  leaving the dealership. His windfall could have easily subsidized a grounded and comfortable lifestyle. No Nod

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcg-BCbmYJ8

Jill34786's avatarJill34786

Quote: Originally posted by mcginnin56 on Jul 27, 2012

I was going to mention that observation yesterday, but I didn't want to offend any vets out there.

His picture was probably taken while in the courtroom, which is why he probably wore it at the time, to evoke some sympathy from the judge.

The Judge saw right through his ploy and offered no sympathy when she sentenced him.

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