A man in South Dakota can claim his $40,000 lottery win while in jail.
This was confirmed by the South Dakota Lottery when Keloland staff questioned the case of Canbie Thompson, sentenced to more than three decades in prison for being part of a methamphetamine distribution organization.
Thompson, 45, won the lottery with a scratch-off ticket.
Subsequently, he was charged with carrying 11 pounds of the drugs, which he intended to transport from California to distribute.
The man pleaded guilty to drug possession, attempted distribution, money laundering, and obstruction of justice.
Thompson is one of eight defendants in the case. The group distributed about 76 pounds of methamphetamine in South Dakota.
Thompson had a criminal history before he was sentenced, including three previous drug cases.
If he had not pleaded guilty, could have been sentenced to life in prison.
The convict defended himself in Court under the allegation that he has problems with addiction and depression.
“I take responsibility for my decisions. I didn’t try to get to this point in my life. I had no desire to be bad, someone who is bad. I have suffered from addiction and depression,” he stated in court.
Relatives of Thompson testified in his favor that he had a difficult childhood since his father was in jail and his mother abandoned him.