The Blaze reported today on the story of Amanda Clayton. Amanda Clayton was discovered in March to have been collecting welfare checks despite having won $735,000 as a lottery prize.
This is the video of her defending her actions:
Please note the following statement:
“I feel that it’s okay because I mean, I have no income and I have bills to pay … I have two houses”
This woman was collecting food stamps after winning the lottery!
The article reports:
Attorney Todd Flood says Clayton has repaid the approximately $5,500 in food aid and medical benefits she received. The 24-year-old pleaded no contest to fraud last month and was sentenced on Tuesday.
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.
So where does Clayton go from here? Her attorney says that because she’s a felon, it’s going to be hard.
“It’s Michigan in 2012. It’s difficult to find a job. A felony conviction is a very serious matter,” Clayton’s attorney told USA Today.
We don’t have a poverty problem–we have an attitude problem! Since finding a job is going to be difficult after a felony conviction, has she considered renting out one of her two houses in order to provide a stream of income. I am sure that with a qualified financial advisor she could actually live quite comfortably on her winnings and rental income.