James Shannon Farthing hit the jackpot on April 26, securing an eye-popping $167.3 million after buying a $2 Powerball ticket from Clark’s Pump N Shop in Georgetown, Kentucky.
Even with such a huge win, Farthing made a heartfelt promise to share the fortune with his mother, Linda Grizzle. He said he wanted to make this Mother’s Day one she would never forget.
According to the lottery, the family had already started working closely with a financial advisor to figure out the smartest way to handle their new fortune.
However, not long after they claimed the life-changing prize, things took a sudden turn. Just days later, Farthing, along with his girlfriend, was taken into custody at the TradeWinds Resort located in St. Pete Beach, Florida.
But that wasn’t all. When a deputy from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office stepped in to break up the fight, Farthing is said to have also kicked the deputy in the face.
With his newfound wealth, Farthing was able to quickly post bail, putting up $11,000 to secure his release. His arraignment has been scheduled for July 14.
As reported by The Smoking Gun, Farthing has spent a significant portion of his life—30 out of his 50 years inside prison walls due to a long list of offenses.
His criminal history stretches across nine counties in Kentucky. Among his convictions are choking a former girlfriend, attempting to bribe prison staff, and even selling cocaine to an undercover police officer.
In one especially shocking case, Farthing managed to smuggle marijuana into a high-security prison. To make matters worse, he even involved his own mother in the illegal operation.
His recent lottery win isn’t just life-changing—it made history. It’s officially the largest Powerball jackpot ever claimed in the state of Kentucky. Before this, the most recent Kentucky Powerball win was in December 2010, and the previous record was set in 2009 with a $128.6 million prize.
Farthing had the option of receiving his winnings through 30 annual payments that would gradually increase over time, or he could take a lump sum payment right away. He chose to collect the immediate cash value of $77.3 million when claiming the prize.