Georgia man pleads guilty to drug trafficking, gun charges
BRUNSWICK, Ga. — A Georgia man who won $3 million in a scratch-off lottery game last year invested his winnings in a crystal meth trafficking ring, according to federal prosecutors.
Ronnie Music Jr., 45, pleaded guilty last week to federal drug trafficking and firearm charges.
"Music decided to test his luck by sinking millions of dollars of lottery winnings into the purchase and sale of crystal meth," U.S. Attorney Ed Tarver said. "As a result of his unsound investment strategy, Music now faces decades in a federal prison."
According to evidence presented at his plea hearing, Music conspired with others to traffic methamphetamine in Ware County, Georgia, and elsewhere.
In September 2015, Music's co-conspirators were caught attempting to sell about 11 pounds of crystal meth, with a street value over $500,000.
Music was identified as a source of supply for the meth, which he had purchased for resale with his lottery winnings from 2015.
The investigation further revealed that Music purchased the methamphetamine for resale with his own lottery winnings.
Investigating agents seized over $1 million worth of methamphetamine, a large cache of firearms, thousands of rounds of ammunition, multiple vehicles and over $600,000 in cash during the investigation.
Music faces a maximum possible sentence of life in prison.
He and other members of the conspiracy will be sentenced by Chief Judge Wood after the United States Probation Office conducts a pre-sentence investigation.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Glynn-Brunswick Narcotics Enforcement Team (GBNET).
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Music?
.
Busted for Crystal Meth after his $3 million win?
wow is there something in the water? crystal meth really if he wanted to do drugs move to the States where weed is legal.
He should have changed his name to Heisenberg.
STUPID !!!! However, he was probably doing Drugs BEFORE he won the Lottery !!!
I would say Marijuana is a safer investment strategy then Meth....
I would say neither is a good choice.
It's about time TLC did a story called 'Whatever happened to the lottery winner?'. He'd be right up there with Jack Whitaker, David Edwards et al, though they did have a segment on both of them it needs updating.
So now he has thrown his life away and in the poorhouse, sad, very sad.
Ronnie could simply have been following the advice of people who have money, you want to make it last-invest. He probably saw the current rates & told himself that he can double, even triple his investment because demand for the product is off the charts.
Is it just me or does Ronnie look a lil like Boromir without the long hair.
And his case, it might be for decades or longer.
Dumba$$. Sigh...
WTF IDIOT!!!!!!!
K'mon man meth? the resale must be really high guess it was worth it
I actually thought he looks more like Jony Ive from Apple:
Hmmm... I'd say Todd is right on this one. Look at the similarities in the eyes, nose, and brow line.
I hear many lotto winners blowing their winnings on blow. This guy tried breaking bad to break even on his habit.
Speechless on this one.
No words....
If they did they would find this on Mr. Music;
Confiscated were 11 guns, a house, a Dodge Charger and a 2015 GMC Sierra, plus $600,000 that was in his bank account. Past events include a conviction of making terrorist threats in 2003. He was additionally convicted of possessing a prohibited weapon and for being a felon in possession of a firearm. His rap sheet also includes a 2009 incident involving the operation of a meth lab resulting in a 10 year conviction but was released on parole in 2012.
Oh, he was also wanted on an outstanding parole warrant.
He must've watched too much Breaking Bad. Or maybe he didn't watch it long enough. The drug business is a risky investment.
It will be Music in prison for the next decades.
At least setup an alias for your drug operation, such as "Heisenberg", keep your house and property clean of all illegal activities, and don't have $600,000 sitting in your local bank account available for seizure. TV can be so educational!
I'm not sure that's the best way to invest your winnings...
That's my least favorite type of person: A professional criminal. Glad he got caught, probably very <snip>y with the I'm above the law type of attitude. Bubba will fix his attitude very quickly in prison; he will be the pretty boy in the block.
such is the life he chose ....
Breaking Stupid
I am music* not Ronnie Music in Georgia. What a waste of a life. Especially here in America.
That should have been a little under $2 million after taxes. While that may not have been enough for him to retire immediately, it could have made his life a lot less stressful.
Maybe, someday luck will shine upon me.
music*:
No one should confuse you with him. You are way too smart to ever do something so stupid and you don't live in the Peachtree state.