Ronnie Music Jr., 45, is facing life in prison after pleading guilty to investing part of his lottery winnings into a crystal methamphetamine drug ring. In 2015, Music had won $3 million in a Georgia scratch-off lottery game. You know what they say about pushing your luck. Don’t!
Of all the things he could have done with his $3 million dollar lotto prize, Ronnie Music Jr., of Waycross, Georgia, decided to invest part of it in a drug business. Evidence presented in the case against him revealed that he had worked with a criminal group to gain access to high quantities of methamphetamine and distribute it all throughout Georgia. His co-conspirators were caught trying to sell approximately 11 pounds of meth, worth more than $500,000 on the streets, and during the investigation Music was identified as the supplier. At his home base in Ware County agents found over $1 million worth of methamphetamine, several firearms, thousands of rounds of ammunition and $600,000 in cash.
After pleading guilty to using his lotto winnings to fund his drug business, prosecutors agreed to drop the remaining charges in a federal indictment and to recommend a sentence of no more than 25 years. However, if he is found to be a career criminal, the government could still seek penalties of at least 35 years or even life in prison. “Defendant Music decided to test his luck by sinking millions of dollars of lottery winnings into the purchase and sale of crystal meth,” United States Attorney Ed Tarver said in a press release. “As a result of his unsound investment strategy, Music now faces decades in a federal prison.”
Prior to his recent arrest, Music had spent several stints in jail. In 2003 he was found guilty of a couple of felonies, possession of a prohibited weapon and making terrorist threats. In 2007 he was jailed again for possession of a firearm, and a third time in 2009 for running a meth lab and possession of methamphetamine with the intention to distribute. In 2015, fortune smiled on him as he won $3 million in a scratch off lottery game. “I buy tickets every once in awhile,” he said at the time. “I couldn’t believe it, and I still don’t believe it yet.”
When announcing Ronnie Music Jr.’s good fortune in February 2015, Georgia Lottery officials mentioned that he and his wife were planing to “save a portion of the winnings”. They never said what he planned to do with the rest of it. I guess now we know…
via NBC News, Scallywag & Vagabond
