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Convicted sex predator Timothy Poole became the newest millionaire in Florida after winning $3 million in a scratch card he bought in a store.
The Orange County Sheriff's Office arrested the 450-pound man due to charges of sexual battery on a boy under 12 years old in 2001.
In 1991, the 43 year old was also arrested for stealing food stamps amounting to almost $20,000 while working as a security guard in Safeco Inc. in Ocala.
Poole has been arrested more than 10 times in Florida due to charges of check forgery and grad theft among many others. According to the Florida Department of Corrections, the registered sexual predator served three years in prison from 2003 up to 2006 and three months preceding that in 1996.
Poole, who currently works as a taxi cab dispatcher and driver at his mother's firm, bought a $20 scratch off card at a 7/11 store over the weekend. He ended up winning the $3 million jackpot, but he opted for a one-time lump sum payment, sacrificing about $800,000 and ending up with the exact amount of $2,219,807.90.
According to Florida Lottery spokeswoman Keri Gero, Poole is the seventh Super Millions $3 million jackpot winner out of 12.
The Florida Lottery, despite public outcry, did not cancel the payment to Poole, who pleaded guilty in an attempted sexual battery on two under-aged victims in 2002.
However, the photo of Poole holding the giant check was taken down by Florida Lottery after the news went out.
"We chose to not draw additional attention to this particular winner," Florida Lottery communications manager Shelly Gerteisen said.
