Lottery winner picks up check, then gets arrested

Jul 22, 2009, 8:57 pm (26 comments)

Canada 6/49

$4.4M lotto winner goes straight to jail

It was a good news, bad news day for Barry Shell.

The good news: he won more than $4 million. The bad news: he ended up in jail.

Shell, from Brampton, Ontario, picked up a check for $4,377,298, the top prize in the July 18 draw for the Lotto 6/49.

"I went to the store and checked my ticket on the self-serve ticket checker," Shell was quoted as saying in a news release from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation.

"As soon as I saw how much I had won, I grabbed a pen and signed my ticket."

On Monday afternoon, a smiling Shell was photographed holding up his check at the OLG headquarters on Dundas Street West in Toronto.

Then Shell strolled out of the building and into the hands of Peel Regional Police officers.

He was wanted on a six-year-old warrant for failing to appear at a 2003 court date to face previous charges of possession of stolen property and theft under $5,000, Peel Regional Police Const. JP Valade said.

According to a spokesman for the OLG, every lottery winner undergoes a security check, and if anything is turned up during the course of the investigation the matter is turned over to the Ontario Provincial Police.

Shell, 45, spent his first night as a multi-millionaire in police custody, and was released on $1,500 bail after a court appearance yesterday.

His next court date has been set for July 30 in Brampton.

The news release said Shell "has no immediate plans for the windfall."

Barry Shell poses with his cheque for nearly $4.4 million at the OLG office on Monday, shortly before his arrest.Barry Shell poses with his cheque for nearly $4.4 million at the OLG office on Monday, shortly before his arrest.

Thanks to truesee for the tip.

Wire reports

Comments

diamondpalace's avatardiamondpalace

Pay up before filling up, the bank.

SmoothJuice

Silly Canadians.

Bagent's avatarBagent

I guess you can say that he had a "DUH" moment when the cops placed their winners bracelets on his wrists.  That will teach him  to forget a court date in the future.

thegee

 that gave him time to think of ways to spend his cash.

 what a reality check.

LotteryJunkiE99's avatarLotteryJunkiE99

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, OH MAN .   THIS IS HILARIOUS BC I MEAN SERIOUSLY WHO DOES THIS? LOL.   Green laugh HE HAD TO KNOW IT WAS COMING. LOL LOL.  Anyway, stealing is never good, and I hope he has to reimburse the theft amount plus interest per month now that he is able to, with hopefully a court ordered apology, and community service, AND a good faith donation to a church, etc.   lol, man, this just goes to show the lottery knows not creed, person, or motto, it respects not, it asks not, just tempts you to spend that one dollar that might change your life for good, or worse sometimes too, like in some cases, lol..   Anyway , I hate it when cheaters win, but oh well, life has a funny way of settling the score, and I hope they throw the book at him to make an example of people who think its okay to win without adressing all the other bad stuff you gotta own up to once you collect public wins, but like I've said, the lottery is an EOE [ Equal Oppurtinity Event. ]  Embarassed  - may the best numbers win!   Lurking

CaesarsGhost

we do that here in America too... just a few months back there was a guy in NC (I think) who won like 200k and was late on dozens of child payments and back taxes, it depleted almost the entire amount.

savagegoose's avatarsavagegoose

should have been a photo collecting  $4m check; all smiles. Then photo for mug shot , all sad.

well a night in jail after winning $4 mill, at least thats some time to think about whats important.

Starr920

Quote: Originally posted by thegee on Jul 23, 2009

 that gave him time to think of ways to spend his cash.

 what a reality check.

I Agree!    It'll be interesting to see how he handles his windfall.Lep

maringoman's avatarmaringoman

During these hard economic times,I'm sure the courts will want to fine him heavily seeing that he is a recipient of a lot of money.

BORGUSX

Wow,I do agree that the court might fine the lottery winner heavily,but I hope life was fair.  Since,I think that perfect justice should fine everybody equally regardless of their financial status.

JackpotWanna's avatarJackpotWanna

Wow~What a story!!

WTG!  A fresh new start in life. Not many are given a second chance.  WOW!!!!!!!

bashley572's avatarbashley572

Quote: Originally posted by CaesarsGhost on Jul 23, 2009

we do that here in America too... just a few months back there was a guy in NC (I think) who won like 200k and was late on dozens of child payments and back taxes, it depleted almost the entire amount.

So the REAL winner was the person he owed the child support to.  Can you image there suprise, they get a call from the state saying 'hey just wanted to let you know your back child support of $X was just collected and you should be getting a check soon"  

I know way too many single parents that WON"T go after someone who owes them childsupport for various reasons.

JAP69's avatarJAP69

Shell, 45, spent his first night as a multi-millionaire in police custody

He got is first days room and board free of charge as a millionaire. Unless they charged him for it.

HaveABall's avatarHaveABall

"He was wanted on a six-year-old warrant for failing to appear at a 2003 court date to face previous charges of possession of stolen propertyand theft under $5,000, Peel Regional Police Const. JP Valade said." ... Interesting how most U.S.A. folks on this board assume this man is guilty, since in the U.S.A. legal system, it is instead presumed that a person is innocent until proven guilty!

Rant

Anyhow, how exciting it is to walk-away with a check for $4.37 Million Canadian Dollars (after most of the federal taxes have been withdrawn)!!! 

I'm curious, how would YOU motivated LotteryPost members spend, invest, save, and share after-tax-$4.37M.C.D. ??

Drum

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