Lottery Winner’s Money Forfeited to Government

This case is not really a wills, trusts, or estates case but it was just too good for me to pass by.

A man bought a half-interest in a ticket for the Texas lottery and was lucky — the ticket was a winner and he was entitled to over $5 million.

But, his luck was about to run out.  It turned out that his occupation was a recreational pharmaceutical salesman and thus was required to forfeit the proceeds after being convicted of various federal crimes.

The evidence revealed that he had been observed engaging in his chosen occupation during the days preceding the lottery and there was no evidence that he had any money except that obtained through drug dealing.

United States v. Betancourt, No. 03-41590 (5th Cir. Aug. 17, 2005).