Brooklyn Mom Picks Up Big Check

Photo via CBS 2

The Brooklyn mom who went from rags to riches by winning a recent $54MM Mega Millions jackpot has picked up her big check. The Rikers corrections officer has been bankrupt and homeless, but now 34-year-old Garina Fearon has got herself $22,723,873 after taxes. She told the NY Post, "All my life, all I ever wanted was a home for me and my family and a car. I already had both even before I won this money. Now I can focus on my work and my family. That’s what’s important to me now."

She plans to buy a BMW 5 series, a new home, and wants to help out her family and close friends. She still says she feels too loyal to leave her job, but wants to take a leave of absence for now. She added that she "hopes this doesn’t change [her two teenage kids] or me."

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By Jen Carlson in News on October 6, 2010 5:30 PM

Comments [rss]

rammyh

This woman can't possibly be of her right mind and think its a good idea to remain on the job as a Riker's guard while announcing to the world that she's worth $22 million.

The only thing I can think of is that she's head over heels in love w/ a prisoner and she wants to stay near him until he serves his time.

Seriously, she lives in a poor and crime filled neighborhood and works surrounded by felons all day - she and/or one of her kids is getting kidnapped/murdered any day now.

Detex

Wow that is racist! why are some people on this site so filled with rage and hate!?!?!?

Love Your Life

Is it mandatory to go public? I know I would not. Very few are smart enough to handle lottery winnings. I would sit on my winnings for a year, after paying some bills, before drastically doing any spending.

jimmylegs

i always worry when lottery winners go public that they set themselves up for kidnapping plots and other scary stuff. and she's thinking about going back to her job as a CO? not bloody likely. take the money and run, run, run!

Gotham Extremist

What!? So humble?! Only a 5 series!? No way?!

Betchall nigaz it be a bad ass 5 series tho, you know, gucci seats, 26" rims, blue headlights, mad sound system blasting lil wayne..... Lifes good.

Detex

Wow that is racist! why are some people on this site so filled with rage and hate!?!?!?

freddynyc

haha By the time all her "cousins" come crawling out of the woodwork, including Pookie and Na Na, she'll probably wind up OWING taxes before long....

John L

She sounds like a very humble and gracious person.

All the best to her and her family.

Tower18

In addition to a good accountant, hopefully she has the sense to leave East New York. Being 100,000 times richer than your neighbors and showing it off (the BMW, etc.) is never a good idea.

thatsomeoneisme

Congratulations to the lady. I truly hope she secures a trustworthy accountant and put your money away wisely. Too many winners have blown through their windfall and died paupers. I hope she sets up a trust for her children. And the Beamer will not need platinum rims, ok?

Rocknrope

HAHAHAHAHHAHA!

Oh, you were being serious.

manuelmontalvo

ok im happy for you, and ima let you finish, but i just want to comment on the racist-russell story, his lawsuit is the greatest fail of all time... SUMMARY JUDGMENT. open the comments.