N.C. lottery winner bails out convict fiancé fourth time

Jan 4, 2016, 8:46 am (82 comments)

After the Big Win

This time she posts $12 million bond for 'Hot Sauce'

BOLIVIA, N.C. — He might win a prize of his own — for being the worst fiancé ever. Or maybe she'll win a prize for being most gullible.

In what almost seems like clockwork, $188 million Powerball winner Marie Holmes has bailed out her fiancé from jail for a fourth time in less than a year, this time posting a $12 million bond for his release.

Holmes made national headlines last February when she was one of three winners who split a $564 million Powerball jackpot. Holmes's share was worth $188 million, and she took home $88 million after taxes when she decided to take the lump sum. (See N.C. Powerball lottery winner claims share of jackpot worth $188 million, Lottery Post, Feb. 24, 2015.)

Since then, her live-in boyfriend Lamarr "Hot Sauce" McDow has been stealing the spotlight for his run-ins with the law and his ability to get out of jail on sky high bonds.

Just a week after her big win, McDow was able to make a $3 million bond in March. He'd been in jail for heroin trafficking charges from Nov. 2014.

McDow was re-arrested during a raid in July, for violating his pre-trial release. Holmes was also cited during that raid. Court documents show officers found weapons and drugs in their home in Shallotte. (See $188 million lottery winner arrested on marijuana charges, Lottery Post, July 27, 2015.)

McDow was put back in jail under a $6 million bond. He posted bail again in early August. (See NC lottery winner spent $9M bailing out convict fiancé, Lottery Post, Aug. 15, 2015.)

In October, Hot Sauce was arrested and bailed out by Holmes a third time and charged with possession of a firearm by a felon. (See N.C. Powerball winner's fiancé jailed for third time this year, Lottery Post, Oct. 20, 2015.)

In 'Sauce's most recent run-in with the law, a warrant was issued December 26 for McDow's arrest on misdemeanor charge of conspiring to arrange a street race. He was booked into the Brunswick County Jail — this time under a $12 million bond.

If a defendant violates the terms of their pre-trial release and has to go back to jail, attorneys explained their bond amount automatically doubles.

According to court documents, McDow was required to wear an ankle bracelet under the terms of his pre-trial release. The agreement essentially puts him on house arrest. He is allowed to go to work, to church on Sunday morning, to the doctor and to court.

Lt. Steve Lanier with the Brunswick County Sheriff's Office said GPS monitoring equipment shows McDow violated the terms of that agreement by going somewhere other than those approved locations.

Bail bondsmen in the Brunswick County area said a non-refundable fee is required when hiring a bondsman to post bail. Historically, it's been about 10 percent of the total bond amount, but on large bonds that fee is often negotiated to a lower percentage.

Bondsmen say it's rare for the fee to go below 7 percent in Brunswick County. Using that figure, McDow and his supporters have likely spent $630,000 in fees that they will never see again to make the $3 million bail in March and the $6 million bail in August.

That money is gone, but McDow doesn't seem content unless he cooking up some new scheme to drain Holmes of her big win. With this new latest bond that's been posted for his release, the non-recoverable fees will likely double.

Defendants have the option to bypass bail bondsmen by writing a check to the clerk of court for the full amount of the bond, rather than a percentage of the bond amount. The defendant or his financial supporter would get all that money back if he showed up for court as promised, but risk losing the full amount if he does not show up for court.

Some big-money winners blow their money on lavish homes, cars, travel, and gifts. This might be the first big winner who blows their jackpot on continually bailing out a criminal.

Holmes, who at the time of her lottery claim planned to use the winnings to open college funds for her four children, as well as buy a new house, is unfortunately heading down the same life path as numerous other big winners who did not successfully manage their windfall.

News story photo(Click to display full-size in gallery)

News story photo(Click to display full-size in gallery)

Lottery Post Staff

Comments

travelintrucker's avatartravelintrucker

Dude, seriously!?Skeptical

All of that money is going to the state instead of her kids!

Add her to the list of dumb lottery winners.

zephbe's avatarzephbe

The lottery doesn't care who wins it nor what they do with the winnings.

delS

Ultimately, this will not end well. The one (s) who will suffer the most will be the kids. This family was given the opportunity to change their lives forever, for the better. But MOM is stuck on stupid.

myturn's avatarmyturn

I hope she comes to her senses before all her money is gone. This case also highlights the issue of anonymity. It can be very dangerous for winners to have their identity released.

haymaker's avatarhaymaker

"He is allowed to go to work"

LMAO !

I thought he was a drug dealer ?

Todd's avatarTodd

Quote: Originally posted by myturn on Jan 4, 2016

I hope she comes to her senses before all her money is gone. This case also highlights the issue of anonymity. It can be very dangerous for winners to have their identity released.

I'm not so sure about that.  In this case, knowing his identity may be a service to all women in America.

haymaker's avatarhaymaker

Quote: Originally posted by myturn on Jan 4, 2016

I hope she comes to her senses before all her money is gone. This case also highlights the issue of anonymity. It can be very dangerous for winners to have their identity released.

In her case anonymity means nothing, the danger is in her own house.

Litebets27's avatarLitebets27

When she won the jackpot, she stated she felt this was a gift from her departed grandmother.

I hope she gets a message soon from her grandmother that will steer her in another direction with this gift.

This case is becoming an embarrassing saga.

jjtheprince

Quote: Originally posted by travelintrucker on Jan 4, 2016

Dude, seriously!?Skeptical

All of that money is going to the state instead of her kids!

Add her to the list of dumb lottery winners.

Exactly!  The government is lovin it!  Tons of free money for them (like they need it anyway). 

I think she could probably be considered the most moronic lottery winner of all time.  Even David Lee Edwards would be considered a "genius" compared to her because at least he purchased some assets.  This fool is giving it all to the government.

music*'s avatarmusic*

 Canadian lottery winner Sharon Tirabassi could teach Marie a few lessons before she wastes it all. Sharon won $10,000,000.00 and spent it all in nine years. She now takes the bus to her low-paying job.

 Some winners are not prepared to win and they refuse to learn from advisers, teachers, counselors.

No Pity!

Todd's avatarTodd

Quote: Originally posted by jjtheprince on Jan 4, 2016

Exactly!  The government is lovin it!  Tons of free money for them (like they need it anyway). 

I think she could probably be considered the most moronic lottery winner of all time.  Even David Lee Edwards would be considered a "genius" compared to her because at least he purchased some assets.  This fool is giving it all to the government.

rochanda12

At this point I believe Marie Holmes money will be gone soon .Perhaps her loosing it all will be a valuable lesson how she turned such a wonderful blessing into a tragedy .So if she becomes destitute again I do not  feel sorry for her only her children because they deserve better than this.She and children  were  set for life.

lejardin's avatarlejardin

I dont see any good outcome of this.  Her children will in all likelihood, follow the example of this disastrous male figure.  Highly doubt a mentor, adviser could change this course.  $21+ mil poof........ the remainder can go just as fast.

cybermoss

It's her money and she can do whatever she wants with it.  If I understand it right she has only spent $630,000.  Not the full amount of the bound.  People always say the kids the kids.  Nobody knows what she has done for the kids.  In a way that's a good thing.  People will think she is broke later in life when really she is still loaded.  Plus when the kids are older they will do well with the money that they have.  "The focus is all on the boyfriend not the kids.  Once again that's a good thing.  Everyone is looking at the right hand not the left. That's a good thing.....LOL

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