DETROIT — Amanda Clayton of Lincoln Park, Mich., was sentenced to probation Tuesday for welfare fraud after she took $5,475 in food assistance payments after winning a $1 million Michigan jackpot last September.
The 25-year-old mother was ordered to serve nine months of probation, plus pay court costs and fines. Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Margie Braxton also told her to get a job and reimburse the state for the money took.
Her lawyer, John Dakmak, said she repaid the money Tuesday morning. Dakmak said Clayton is looking for a job but likely will have trouble because of her felony conviction.
“It’s Michigan in 2012. It’s difficult to find a job. A felony conviction is a very serious matter,” he said, declining to let Clayton speak after the sentencing hearing.
Clayton first came to the attention of authorities when a local news outlet revealed she was still taking Bridge Card payments even after winning several hundred thousand dollars, after taxes, in September from a Michigan lottery game.
At the time, she said she felt entitled to the payments because she needed the help. But the Michigan Department of Human Services requires that income changes be reported within 10 days.
Clayton, who was on food assistance from 2010 to 2012, apparently never did so, said Attorney General Bill Schuette, even after she got a job for four months in 2011.
Dakmak said once the discrepancy was pointed out, Clayton had every intention of paying the state back. He said she was charged with felony welfare fraud by the state Attorney General’s Office in April before she could.
Days before her arrest, Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder signed into law legislation requiring lottery officials to report winnings to DHS.
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©2012 Detroit Free Press
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Requiring State lottery reports of winnings to Maine DHHS would be a good step to help keep social benefits recipients honest if it isn’t already being done.
I agree..Other things should be counted as well..Like Earned Income Tax Credit handout..I know that some get thousands in EIC handouts on their Federal Tax Returns and it doesn’t count towards the SNAP or welfare…I see them in Walmart blowing it on electronics and other crap..Yes working at Walmart in the evenings and weekends is ONE of my jobs I work to support the layabouts…That is just wrong…
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At the time, she said she felt entitled to the payments because she needed the help. ” If that doesn’t explain it all I don’t know what does. There’s your sense of entitlement that seems to be so prevalent in this country these days. Several hundred thousand dollars after taxes and she feels entitled to food stamps.
I agree 100% and had the same feelings after reading that statement…..Not only should she be on probation, she should be given community service and made to serve it at food banks and shelters so she can see first hand the people who really need the help!