Ronnie Music Jr appeared to have hit the jackpot when he won approximately £2.3 million on a scratch-off lottery in Georgia, US, back in 2015. However, instead of opting for a quiet life of luxury or smart investments, Music funneled his newfound wealth into a dangerous criminal enterprise, ultimately landing him behind bars.
At 44 years old, and already a convicted felon working as a maintenance supervisor, Music promised lottery officials he would invest his winnings wisely. But his true investment was in a sprawling methamphetamine trafficking network spanning multiple states, which he orchestrated from Calhoun State Prison.
His operation quickly drew the attention of law enforcement. In September 2015, ten of Music’s associates were arrested while attempting to distribute methamphetamine with an estimated street value of around £362,000. Despite witnessing the bust, Music continued his illegal activities, refusing to abandon the drug trade.
Weeks later, tipped off by an informant, police arrested Music and found him in possession of four pounds of meth and £17,000 in cash. A search of his home and workplace revealed 11 firearms, including assault-style weapons, a stolen revolver, and an illegal sawn-off shotgun—possession of which was illegal given his felony status.
The United States Attorney’s Office confirmed that as a convicted felon, Music was prohibited from owning firearms. His reckless lifestyle and criminal choices culminated in a guilty plea for conspiring to traffic large amounts of methamphetamine and illegal firearm possession.
On April 3, 2017, just two years after his lottery win, Ronnie Music Jr was sentenced to 21 years in federal prison. Judge Lisa Goodby Wood remarked, “Nobody has ever blown lottery winnings in a more dangerous and destructive way than you did.”
Jim Durham, acting US Attorney, emphasized the seriousness of Music’s crimes, stating, “Mr. Music is a predator who has destroyed lives by pushing poison and fear. Our job is to protect our communities by sending predators like Music to federal prison for a very long time.”
This cautionary tale highlights how quickly fortune can turn to misfortune when wealth is squandered on criminality.