“Make Me a Millionaire,” the California Lotterys TV game show, awarded 12 lucky contestants a total of 7000 in cash and prizes on this weeks show. Lucky Penny contestants dominated this weeks episode. Danielle Maldonado of Auberry, Hratch Tchakirian of Los Angeles and Eric Jensen of Westminster all played a perfect game and drove home in brand new cars. Maldonado, a 22-year-old gas station attendant, had a great time on the show. The whole experience was awesome! she said. In addition, Pedro Barbes of Bellflower walked away with 000 after playing the Millionaire game. The 76-year old retiree plans to take a vacation to his native Puerto Rico. With the progressive jackpot increasing 0000 each week, next weeks Millionaire game contestant will have a chance to win .2 million.
Ten months ago, Abraham Shakespeare simply vanished, along with all of his money: million he won in the Florida Lottery. “We fear he’s died a sinister death with sinister motives,” said Polk Sheriff Grady Judd. Now investigators have arrested a fellow law enforcement officer. Troy Young, a 20-year veteran of the Lakeland Police Department, is accused of selling confidential information about Shakespeare to a woman who is now considered a person of interest in the case. “He’s a very well-liked guy. He’s a personable guy, well-liked by fellow officers and well-liked by people in the community,” said Lakeland Police spokesman Jack Gillen. Detectives say Officer Young sold the information to 37 year old Dee Dee Moore. Investigators say they met through a mutual friend, and that she claimed she was writing a book about the millionaire. They say she paid the officer 0 and a plane ticket to run tag numbers and searches through law enforcement databases. “For very little amount of money and Troy’s bad judgment, Dee Dee Moore ruined his career in her overall confidence scheme,” said Polk Sheriff Grady Judd. The sheriff calls Moore a con artist who befriended Shakespeare and Officer Young — a law enforcement veteran whose record was spotless, until now. “Troy Young may not have known her ultimate sinister motive. But he knows as a police officer, it is illegal to run tag numbers and provide that data our of the confidential systems to the public,” Judd said. Young is charged with unlawful compensation, a 2nd degree felony; and misuse of confidential information, a misdemeanor.
Loyal Britney Spears fans get the chance to see the half-naked pop star in concert, The Beatles are FINALLY out on Rock Band and now you can scratch and win thanks to the Goo Goo Dolls as well as Warner Music and the California Lottery. Check out www.rock.com, www.Blog.Rock.com, www.Tickets.Rock.com (for your share of Brit) and Store.Rock.com for some awesome attire!
VIDEO 2 starts at 1:20 Video 3 starts at 2:10 — I put together three chronologically placed videos. The first is a raw interview with Shakespeare about his troubles after winning, the second is of the investigation and the last is the report from today. STORY: (1/29/09) **PLANT CITY, Fla. — A body found buried in a backyard has been identified by authorities as missing Florida lottery winner Arthur Shakespeare. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s office said Friday the remains were identified through fingerprints. The body was found Thursday at a Plant City home connected to a woman who had befriended him. The house is owned by the boyfriend of Dorice Moore, who authorities have called a “person of interest.” Moore has said she doesn’t know where Shakespeare is, but authorities say she transferred more than million from his bank account into hers. She said the money was a gift. No charges have been filed. Shakespeare — who had a criminal record that included arrests and prison time for burglary, battery and not paying child support — won million in 2006 and took a lump-sum payment of .9 million instead of annual installments. He bought a Nissan Altima, a Rolex from a pawn shop, a million home in a gated community. He talked about starting a foundation for the poor and insisted the money wouldn’t change him. “I’m not a material person,” he said in 2007. “I don’t let material things run me. I’m on a tight budget.” The money quickly caused him problems. A former co-worker sued him in 2007, accusing Shakespeare of stealing the winning ticket from him. Six months later, a jury ruled the ticket was Shakespeare’s. Then there were the people constantly asking him for a piece of his fortune. “They didn’t wait. They just came right after they found out he won this money,” his mother, Elizabeth Walker, said recently. She said her son was generous, paying for funerals, lending money to friends starting businesses and even giving a million dollars to a guy known only as “Big Man.” Not long after he bought the million-dollar home in early 2007, he was approached by Moore, said family and officials. Moore said she was interested in writing a book about Shakespeare’s life. She became something of a financial adviser to Shakespeare, who never graduated high school. Property records show that Moore’s company, American Medical Professionals, bought Shakespeare’s home for 5000 last January. His mother said the last time she saw him was shortly afterward, around her birthday in February. The sheriff said the last time anyone saw Shakespeare was in April — but it wasn’t until Nov. 9 that he was reported missing, by a police informant.
Authorities have identified a body found buried in a backyard as missing Florida lottery winner Abraham Shakespeare. The Sheriff’s office said Friday the remains were identified through fingerprints. (Jan. 29)
Kevin Lu, a 26 year old Gardena resident and former computer student, is Californias newest millionaire. Lu won the .6 million jackpot, becoming the fifth millionaire on the California Lotterys game show. Born in Taiwan, Lu came to the United States when he was 12 years old. Lu said that his win came at the right time because it will allow him time to seek out his dream job. He does not yet have any concrete plans for his prize money but said he would probably buy a new car. Lus appearance is especially noteworthy because he played a perfect game by correctly guessing higher or lower 10 times in a row to spell out MILLIONAIRE. Contestants are afforded two incorrect guesses before the game ends, but Lu never received a strike against him. He credits his good fortune to a gift his girlfriend, Joy, gave him prior to the taping of his segment. In our culture crystal gives good luck and my girlfriend gave me a crystal bracelet to keep with me for luck! he said. Declan mccullagh of San Francisco was the nights other big winner. mccullagh, a senior correspondent for cbsnews.com, won 0000 playing California Cool. A self declared odds man, he had his strategy for success outlined prior to taking the stage. I told myself I would keep on playing when the odds were in my favor, and when they were not, I would stop, he said. mccullagh plans to save his money and start a college fund for his newborn son. The Millionaire segment of the show begins with a randomly selected number between 1 and 50. Based on what that number is, the contestant will predict whether the next number is higher or lower. Each time a contestant guesses correctly, he or she will earn 000. Lu correctly guessed higher or lower 10 times in a row to spell out MILLIONAIRE and win the progressive jackpot. He will receive approximately 0000 each year for the next twenty years. This weeks Make Me a Millionaire contestants won a total of 86000.
An Orlando dermatologist and his wife have won the largest jackpot of any kind awarded by the Florida Lottery. They have chosen to take a 1 million lump-sum payment rather than 9 million spread over 20 years. (Oct. 15)
