MEMPHIS LOTTERY WINNER ARRESTED
They say money can't buy happiness, but apparently it can rent six donkeys, twelve mariachi musicians, and enough public embarrassment to get yourself arrested.
Police say 44-year-old Memphis resident Ricardo "Rico" Martinez was taken into custody Tuesday after allegedly spending part of his recent $18 million Tennessee Lottery jackpot on what authorities described as "an aggressively creative revenge campaign."
According to investigators, Martinez became upset after his longtime girlfriend, Isabella Ramirez, dumped him just weeks after his lottery win and reportedly told friends, "I was tired of him before he was rich."
That statement apparently hit Rico harder than a pothole on Poplar Avenue.
Determined to prove he was thriving without her, Rico allegedly paid over $15,000 to hire a traveling mariachi group, a petting-zoo donkey rental company, and a man dressed as a giant gold bar to follow Isabella around Memphis for nearly two weeks.
Witnesses reported seeing the unusual parade outside grocery stores, nail salons, gas stations, and even a doctor's office waiting room.
The musicians repeatedly performed customized songs including:
“If You Liked It Then You Should've Married It"
“All About The Benjamins"
“Shoulda Stayed For The Jackpot"
And a crowd favorite titled "Guess Who's Eating Ribeyes Every Night?"
The donkeys reportedly wore custom blankets embroidered with the phrase:
"THIS COULD HAVE BEEN YOUR BOAT PAYMENT."
The final straw came Monday morning when Isabella arrived for work in East Memphis and was greeted by the full parade, a portable smoke machine, and the giant gold bar character throwing fake hundred-dollar bills into the air while shouting, "FINANCIAL UPDATE! FINANCIAL UPDATE!"
Traffic backed up for nearly three blocks as confused drivers slowed down to determine whether they were witnessing a parade, a campaign rally, or some kind of tax audit.
When officers questioned Martinez, he reportedly defended himself by saying:
"I wasn't harassing anybody. I was simply providing visual evidence that poor decisions have consequences."
He was arrested on charges of disorderly conduct, creating a public disturbance, and operating what police described as "the pettiest parade in Shelby County history."
At last report, the donkeys had been released without charges and are said to be cooperating fully with investigators
Cliff Messer