Former fiancé sues $188 million Powerball jackpot winner

Feb 16, 2021, 11:28 am (47 comments)

After the Big Win

By Kate Northrop

The ex-fiancé of a North Carolina Powerball winner is suing her for allegedly giving away over a million dollars' worth of property he claims were gifts given to him by her.

Lamarr McDow, the former fiancé of $188 million Powerball winner Marie Holmes, filed a lawsuit against her after she reportedly gave away his gifts consisting of cars, clothes, and miscellaneous property that totaled over $1.4 million in value.

Holmes lived with her then-boyfriend McDow at the time of her win. She met him back in 2012 when she was working at McDonald's and Walmart and living with her mother and three children in a mobile home. Since the couple began dating, they had two children together.

After splitting the $564 million Powerball jackpot with two other winners in February 2015, Holmes opted to receive a lump sum payout of $127 million and kept $88 million after taxes. She used her lottery winnings to buy a $250,000 house and moved in with McDow for about a year.

Between 2015 and 2016, the Powerball winner lavishly spent her winnings on her boyfriend. According to the federal lawsuit, these purchases included a $250,000 modified 2015 Chevrolet Stingray, $100,000 worth of clothes and jewelry, and an automotive restoration business for $600,000. Overall, the value of her gifts to him exceeded $1.4 million.

Documents state that, although "the automobiles and trucks listed above were titled in different names, there were witnesses, including the title holders that were present when Ms. Holmes voluntarily relinquished her ownership and control of the purchased vehicles by immediately turning over the keys to the vehicles to Mr. McDow for his exclusive use."

In January 2016, McDow pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to traffic heroin following his arrest in November 2014. He was sentenced as part of a plea agreement to a minimum of 7.5 years in prison and was ordered to pay a $100,000 fine.

The lawsuit states that that McDow executed a general Power-of-Attorney in January 2016 naming Holmes, his then fiancée, as his agent in anticipation of his impending incarceration. Therefore, it claims that Holmes wrongfully sold or gave away personal property that was entrusted to her for safekeeping without disclosing any of the transactions to McDow.

"As Mr. McDow's agent, Ms. Holmes was a fiduciary with respect to matters within the scope of her agency," the lawsuit says. "Mr. McDow authorized Ms. Holmes to store, maintain, and protect his real and personal property during his incarceration."

According to court documents, the couple also appeared on a television show in 2016. In an interview, she openly acknowledged purchasing the items listed in the lawsuit as gifts for McDow.

McDow is set to be released from prison in 2023.

DOCUMENT: Read the full lawsuit

Lottery Post Staff

Comments

Jorli D's avatarJorli D

Stupid is as stupid does.

Bleudog101

I hope that the Judge dismisses the case with prejudice so he can't try again to sue her if I understand that jargon correctly.

But she was stupid for staying with him and bailing him out.   That should account for something all the money she lost on that loser.

She was on Lottery Changed My Life I believe and her Mom was the only one with any lick of intelligence out of the three of them.   The picture of the expensive play things for the kids strewn across the property; talking about ATV's etc was almost too much.

CDanaT's avatarCDanaT

If memory serves me correctly, I believe that this outstanding taxpayer was referred to as " Hot Sauce" back in the day of his dabbling of the opioid substance ........ Just curious Marie, how's all this working out for ya ??   

Bleudog101

Shoveling snow and ice and remembered was Iyanla Fix my life who featured a story on her and him, not Lottery Change my Life as I incorrectly stated.

partlycloudy07

Gifts are just that in NC you can't be a Indian giver here also he signed a POA apparently he doesn't understand in his drug induced state what a POA is 

 

North Carolina General Statute § 32C-1-102(9) defines a  power of attorney as a “writing or other record that grants authority to an agent to act in the place of the principal, whether or not the term  power of attorney is used.” Under North Carolina General Statute § 32C-1-102(11), the person granting authority in a ... with a

 

POA that is valid you don't have to have original signer if the cars were not in his name it doesn't matter anyway NC frowns upon selling a car to someone that doesn't posses a valid DL . 

 

This lawsuit will come down to ethics the remorse of the ex selling his "gifts" although it concerns me they were not in his name a judge will have to see the intention on both sides but sounds like to me when the money ran out or she broke it off with him she should not have used her POA to sell his "gifts" . Maybe he thought if she was broke she would take all his toys back to the tiny trailer that she lived in before she got rich

noise-gate

Quote: Originally posted by CDanaT on Feb 16, 2021

If memory serves me correctly, I believe that this outstanding taxpayer was referred to as " Hot Sauce" back in the day of his dabbling of the opioid substance ........ Just curious Marie, how's all this working out for ya ??   

Yes, it's him. That " hot sauce " gravy train finally came to a screeching halt!

Cassie8620's avatarCassie8620

was hoping i would learn:

Frown-after IYANLA.OPRAH interview she was doing even better and i still hope that for her children,herself, in my state here in NC

 

and i then read this with an ex-guy in her life, Lamar.

smh. still praying for her.

 

Also,i'm hating to know she spent so much cash on a guy in jail,her partner or 1 of the kids father, i didn't like that,but still again wishing her the best.

spirit38

It's her loss, she should have never bought him anything. She technically owes him those things back if they were really bought for him. I remember their story on one of the series I had watched, she was stupid how she handled her money, and she never only bailed him out once it was over 3 different times. She should have kicked him out of her life before she even claimed her lottery win.

noise-gate

Quote: Originally posted by spirit38 on Feb 16, 2021

It's her loss, she should have never bought him anything. She technically owes him those things back if they were really bought for him. I remember their story on one of the series I had watched, she was stupid how she handled her money, and she never only bailed him out once it was over 3 different times. She should have kicked him out of her life before she even claimed her lottery win.

She came to her senses, and that's  what matters.lt would be catastrophic if he bled her dry.

KY Floyd's avatarKY Floyd

"lt would be catastrophic if he bled her dry."

It sounds like he's asking for less than $1.5 million, based on the value of property that, if it was in fact given as gift, belonged to him. If that's enough to bleed her dry it's not his fault even if the property was never his.

Artist77's avatarArtist77

Their children are named Chili sauce, Sweet and Sour sauce, and Tomato sauce. I knew I would have a chance to use that line again.

In all seriousness, the sole question is whether these items were gifts so I doubt the case will be dismissed. I think she will end up paying some money out. These items do sound like gifts regardless of them both being idiots. The fact that she disposed of the items during his prison sentence, is not a point in her favor either.

En ReVal

so he wanted her to hold onto this stuff for 8 yrs?

HaveABall's avatarHaveABall

Artist77 I Agree!.  Once Marie decided to break off her relationship with Lamar, she should have filed to be removed as his legal POA.

Lamar's next POA (either personally or court appointed) should have been aprized of his assets and where they were.  It would have been up to Lamar and the POA to decide which clothing, cars, businesses, etc. needed to begin being advertised for sale in order to pay for maintaining/creating: term life insurance policy (with all his children listed as beneficiaries), car and miscellaneous possession storage units, etc.

noise-gate

Quote: Originally posted by KY Floyd on Feb 16, 2021

"lt would be catastrophic if he bled her dry."

It sounds like he's asking for less than $1.5 million, based on the value of property that, if it was in fact given as gift, belonged to him. If that's enough to bleed her dry it's not his fault even if the property was never his.

l was thinking " had he not" gone to prison Floyd, thus my comment- but l hear you.

cottoneyedjoe

Hot Sauce, I am here for you. Selling a man's leaf blower is a line you just do not cross.

sweetie7398's avatarsweetie7398

I pray that Marie and her family are doing wellBlue AngelSaucee 🙄 needs to take several seats far away from her and leave her alone. He's a leach.🤨😡

MrLotto$

You know what he wants to do to her.... he's a dummy she's a dummy that's the way the world goes round

Stat$talker's avatarStat$talker

Quote: Originally posted by partlycloudy07 on Feb 16, 2021

Gifts are just that in NC you can't be a Indian giver here also he signed a POA apparently he doesn't understand in his drug induced state what a POA is 

 

North Carolina General Statute § 32C-1-102(9) defines a  power of attorney as a “writing or other record that grants authority to an agent to act in the place of the principal, whether or not the term  power of attorney is used.” Under North Carolina General Statute § 32C-1-102(11), the person granting authority in a ... with a

 

POA that is valid you don't have to have original signer if the cars were not in his name it doesn't matter anyway NC frowns upon selling a car to someone that doesn't posses a valid DL . 

 

This lawsuit will come down to ethics the remorse of the ex selling his "gifts" although it concerns me they were not in his name a judge will have to see the intention on both sides but sounds like to me when the money ran out or she broke it off with him she should not have used her POA to sell his "gifts" . Maybe he thought if she was broke she would take all his toys back to the tiny trailer that she lived in before she got rich

"POA that is valid you don't have to have original signer if the cars were not in his name it doesn't matter anyway NC frowns upon selling a car to someone that doesn't posses a valid DL ."

 

Well, there's a lesson to be learned by all you "Legal Pundits" here... In my Johnnie Cochran opinion... "DL" are issued by a State granting permission to engage in "Commercial" transportation...!!

The U.S. Constitution protects citizen's right to travel... whether it's down the street, across town, or across the Country!..So, one doesn't need "Driver's License".. unless you ARE a Commercial "Driver".. ex.. Taxi, Tractor-Trailer, Bus, Limousine, Police, Uber, Grubhub, Mail Carrier..etc... Using the public roads to make a profit...

Congress gave States the right to regulate "Commerce", ..not the right to regulate "Constitutional Rights"..!! cause somewhere I've read...

"All Men are created equal, and that they are endowed with certain inalienable rights,..among those are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness"..!!

Now, back in the day, when a horse and buggy were the main mode of transportation, you didn't need a "License" to ride a horse, .. you still aren't required to have license to ride a horse TODAY..! You don't buy a car, simply to let it sit in your driveway.. it's used to convey one's right to travel...!!

The "Automobile" merely replaced the "horse and buggy"..So, as long as the Advalorem taxes/Tag are paid on your vehicle?.. it's legally allowed on any public road..regardless to whether you have Driver's Licenses or not..!!

So, those Cars are his, if she indeed bought them for him, and the State of NC had better turn that "frown".. upside down..!. and project a Sunny nClear..  instead of partlyCloudy  attitude..!!

 

-Stat$talker 

hearsetrax's avatarhearsetrax

Quote: Originally posted by MrLotto$ on Feb 17, 2021

You know what he wants to do to her.... he's a dummy she's a dummy that's the way the world goes round

Cheers

Rman313's avatarRman313

Quote: Originally posted by Jorli D on Feb 16, 2021

Stupid is as stupid does.

Right! She should have gotten rid of him on day one! Now she is paying  for it! She has spent millions on that guy keep him out of prison! That's what happens when you date a idiot.😒

Bleudog101

Wasn't she just sued by her church's Pastor for more money?

 

She'll be @ the prison gate in 2023 waiting for Mr. Wonderful to come out and get into trouble again.   The vicious cycle will continue until she gets killed or ends up broke!

db101's avatardb101

Quote: Originally posted by Bleudog101 on Feb 17, 2021

Wasn't she just sued by her church's Pastor for more money?

 

She'll be @ the prison gate in 2023 waiting for Mr. Wonderful to come out and get into trouble again.   The vicious cycle will continue until she gets killed or ends up broke!

Hopefully he'll croak before she does.

EnReval

She had a 2nd child by him when he went bk to jail in 2016

EnReval

Have family that lives not too far fr her hometown and she's moved on to Seattle.  Been gone for abt 4 yrs

Bleudog101

Quote: Originally posted by EnReval on Feb 17, 2021

Have family that lives not too far fr her hometown and she's moved on to Seattle.  Been gone for abt 4 yrs

I remember her Mom coming from Seattle on the Iyanla show.   Is this the one you're talking about?   I wish her Daughter would've moved out West.   She's the only one that memory serves me had any common sense.

EnReval

Ues same family. The daughter Fontella Marie Holmes did leave the NC area and moved to Seattle.

the weird thing is that on the Iyanla show, it mentions that the mom dreamed the numbers and that's how she won but the ticket was a quick-pick.

 

 

 I guess ahe dreamed the numbers and they appeared on a quick  pick

KY Floyd's avatarKY Floyd

"l was thinking " had he not" gone to prison"

Oh yeah. If he'd stayed out of prison and they stayed together Im sure there's a far better chance a lot of the money would have been spent in ways that don't make a lot of sense.

 

"In my Johnnie Cochran opinion... "DL" are issued by a State granting permission to engage in "Commercial" transportation...!!"

I can't even begin to describe how surprised I am to find out that your confusion extends to things besides statistics.

"The U.S. Constitution protects citizen's right to travel..."

I've got a pretty good imagination, but I still can't imagine how dumb you have to be to think that traveling and driving a car are the same thing.

TheGameGrl's avatarTheGameGrl

Her tax filings will show if she claimed these as "gifts". If so , she is on the hook.

As to whether the property was titled in the persons name is another matter. 

North Carolina has some contradictory laws ....

 

I agree with you KyFloyd. Quite the imagination to have travel mean car,train, horse, or airplane, pogo stick, scooter, row boat  are a RIGHT.

db101's avatardb101

Quote: Originally posted by on Jun 18, 2026

Never change, Stat$.

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