James Farthing Kentucky career criminal tempts fate with new arrest after $167m Powerball jackpot win as he may end up forfeiting the spoils of a freak lottery win with his now third arrest since last year’s mega win.
Some old habits never die and may even end up keeping one lucky winner from enjoying divine intervention interceding in his seemingly ‘awry’ life choices….
A recent $167M lottery winner and repeat criminal offender in Kentucky has been arrested for the third time since recently winning that state’s most lucrative lottery prize ever.
James Farthing, 51, was arrested over the weekend for allegedly breaking into a Lexington, KY home and stealing $12K.
Kentucky lottery winner tempts fate with slew of arrests since mega win
Farthing following his arrest was further booked for illicit marijuana possession following Saturday’s home burglary marking the incident his third run with authorities since his mega lottery win in April, 2025.
Farthing was allegedly captured on surveillance cameras at the side door of a woman’s home in Lexington before unlawfully entering the place, Lex18 reported.
The break-in victim heard a loud noise consistent with a door being broken, before soon realizing $12,000 was missing from the home according to an arrest report.
Farthing was later that evening tracked down to a casino (of course…) where after a search of his car led to officers finding marijuana along with multiple blunts, including one that had burnt out in his vehicle’s ashtray.
Understanding how gambling odds work along with losing and winning streaks (and life choices)
Farthing had spent most of his life in and out of incarceration before he, his mother and girlfriend bought the winning ticket for a $167m Powerball jackpot award in April according to Smoking Gun.
According to the outlet, Farthing who had been on a long time losing streak had only completed 10 years of formal schooling while earning his GED in prison.
That all changed last April when divine intervention stepped in, giving Farthing seemingly a new ‘metaphorical’ spin at the dice and a a blowout payout that seemingly ought to have set him up for life.
The $167m Powerball win left the trio deciding whether to collect the full amount in annual increments over 29 years or immediately in a one-time, lump sum of $77.3m.
Farthing and his family said they would talk with a financial adviser before ‘choosing the better option for them.’
As Farthing put it, the win resulted from playing the odds. ‘I’m always buying [lottery tickets] ’cause I’m like, ‘Somebody’s gotta win,’’ Farthing previously told WKYT.
Which is a round about way of saying, ‘someone has to always lose as well….’
Mega winner now reverting back to long time losing spiral?
It was a matter of days before Farthing recorded another brush with the law – when officials in Florida said he hit a hotel guest in the face, kicked a deputy and violated his parole conditions by leaving Kentucky without permission.
He pleaded guilty to that case in early March as part of a deal requiring him to pay $1,000 in fines but sparing him any additional jail time, WKYT reported at the time.
But there’s more, cause when you’re on a winning streak, the odds seem to be stacked in your favor (as much as the odds seemed to be stacked against you when you are on a losing streak, conversely… which Farthing might soon find himself tempting fate to call in).
In February, Kentucky authorities arrested Farthing on allegations that he tried to intimidate a participant of a legal process. Investigators said the alleged victim in that case reported meeting Farthing and being pressured into ingesting a marijuana edible. The woman later reportedly called police and reported that people with a weapon wanted to hurt her.
Officers who responded to the scene alleged that they found marijuana and a gun. And as the alleged victim was being questioned, police accused Farthing of sending her a text message which read, ‘Why would you do this to me? Unreal. I’d never hurt you.’
Farthing was tentatively due in court in the burglary case on Monday and on the intimidation charge on Thursday. He also reportedly has an separate hit-and-run case pending.
Which is to wonder maybe Farthing may want to talk to his accounting team and take the lump sump now as he might just end up forfeiting the next 29 years and then some while waiting for his ‘universal’ spoils to ‘deposit’.
