Leroy Fick, Millionaire Lottery Winner, Still Using Food Stamps (VIDEO)

Leroy Fick, a Michigan man who won $2 million in the state's lottery, has sparked outrage after he admitted earlier this week that he still uses food stamps.

Fick, 59, won $2 million last year on "Make Me Rich!," a Michigan lottery television show. He drives an Audi convertible but still uses the Michigan Bridge Card, an electronic food stamps card.

WNEM-TV broke the story when reporter Bill Walsh confronted Fick at his home. In the video, Fick says, "I think it's fair because of the way they took the taxes."

The Michigan Department of Human Services said that Fick's lump-sum payment does not count as income so he is still able to collect benefits.

The Detroit Free Press reports that Michigan lawmakers are working quickly to revise the rules so Fick will no longer be able to use food stamps.

Watch the awkward confrontation and then let us know what you think in the comments below.

Comments

[miffedinar]

12:29 AM on 06/04/2011

Maybe it varies from state to state, but it seems like the cut-off in held assets here is $2,500 (above one vehicle and I think a home if you own one.) A little under 1 million after taxes would still put him WAY over the asset limitation for food stamps here (Arkansas). I didn't realize how much the requirements varied like that!

[Ernest Bowman]

12:43 PM on 05/22/2011

I THINK WE SHOULD WISH HIM WELL AND MIND OUR OWN BUSSINESS BECAUSE THE TRUTH IS WE ALL WISH IT WAS US , THE MAN HAD THE TYPICAL AMERICAN NIGHT MARE A LIFE OF HARD WORK COME OF AGE AILMENTS IN TOW AND THEN GET A WIND FALL NIGHT MARE INDEED SO I SAY LEAVE THE FELLA ALONE AND BESIDES THIER IS FEAR AND DIS TRUST THERE TO IF HE FEELS HE HAS TO KEEP HIS BENEFIT CARD SO LEAVE HIM BE AND HOPE FULLY WE WILL IN OUR LIFE TIME GET A CHANCE AT FREEDOM IN THE AREA OF MONEY AND SEE IF WE CAN REMAIN SANE.

[funkyou2]

01:44 AM on 05/22/2011

Like we're supposed to care?...The oil companies make huge profits and still get government welfare...no one seems to think that's so bad...when folks stand up against that type of welfare abuse, then I'll start bein' upset about the few hundred bucks this guy gets....Hypocrites!!

[Lola Gonzales]

08:43 PM on 05/20/2011

i tell you this system is so screwed up, i am retired and also on disability, i get 19.00 amonth of disability so i cannot apply for food stamps, after paying my rent, storage and utiliy bills i have a grand total of 120.00 left over for food, gas , luxuries eg.toilet paper, shampoo, deodorant etc.i wish i could buy a lottery ticket every blue moon but cannot do!!!

[lizouttavegas]

06:12 PM on 05/20/2011

this guy would be an insult to any race/creed or culture that produced him...he's greedy..my personal favorite for the worst of venial sins...greed.

[lizouttavegas]

06:10 PM on 05/20/2011

this guy is everything that is wrong w/this country! shame on you mr.

[Joseph Roberts]

04:14 PM on 05/20/2011

Did anybody read the article? Did anybody watch the interview? THE GOVERNMENT TOOK OVER A MILLION DOLLARS FROM HIM!!!! If it were up to me, he would have thousands of bridge cards!!!

[eviehaggard]

06:15 PM on 05/20/2011

ITS CALLED TAXES. LIKE WE ALL PAY

[Joseph Roberts]

12:22 PM on 05/24/2011

Let's be realistic here. You don't pay over 50% in taxes.

[RightnotLeft]

02:34 PM on 05/20/2011

You think this is the only Liberal scamming your tax dollars. Check out this guy. Probably a liberal as well.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/may/17/senator-questions-benefits-to-adult-baby/?page=all

[BemusedOne]

02:12 PM on 05/20/2011

Can't his name now be used like "frak" was in Battlestar Galactica?
"Hey, I really Ficked the system!"
"What a cluster-Fick!"
"That guy's gonna Fick you over!"
...and so on.
He'll be to welfare fraud what the Earl of Sandwich was to lunch.

[KMBerger]

01:15 PM on 05/20/2011

This kind of anomaly -- a true welfare bum -- gives a bad name to the food stamp program and those who are in genuine need of assistance. I hope the legislature in Michigan will penalize Fick at least for all the money he earned on food stamps since winning the lottery if not ordering him to do community service at a homeless shelter or food pantry. Fick is a disgusting disgrace of an individual.

[Crumbx]

12:53 PM on 05/20/2011

How is this guy different from one of those fat-behinde gated community housewives that never contributed a penny to S.S. or Medicare taking a "benefit" equal to half their husband's SS, while single people and working wives get to make up the difference?

[colettehope]

09:50 AM on 05/20/2011

There,s an old saying that goes something like this...Don't bite the hand that feeds you.

[Photoboy]

09:46 AM on 05/20/2011

What about the people who receive substantial retirement packages from private corporations and then collect huge SS payouts because "it's legal and I payed into it"? I know of so many people who worked in the film industry who did something similar. When they had a hiatus between shows or seasons, they collected unemployment while they sat on their butts waiting for the next show(2-3 months). They worked very hard but were also compensated extra because of the lag-time between jobs ($400-$1400 a day). Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should. These are safety-nets for desperate times AND to keep desperate people from kicking in your door and taking what you've worked for (NO ONE wants to talk about that one).

[paddles]

09:26 AM on 05/20/2011

I thought David Carradine was dead.

[colettehope]

09:23 AM on 05/20/2011

I cannot understand why he just doesn't refuse the food stamps. This man is reminiscent of the people that claim disability, but are not disabled. Most of those people don't have millions though.