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Lottery winner accused of welfare fraud found dead

ECORSE, MI (AP)--   Police say a Detroit-area woman who collected welfare benefits despite winning a $735,000 lottery prize has died of a possible drug overdose.

Ecorse police Sergeant Cornelius Herring confirmed that 25-year-old Amanda Clayton was found dead about 9 a.m. Saturday at a home in the community southwest of Detroit.

Clayton, of Lincoln Park, pleaded no contest to fraud in June and was sentenced to nine months' probation in July. Her attorney has said Clayton repaid about $5,500 in food aid and medical benefits.

Michigan's Department of Human Services says Clayton didn't inform the state about her pre-tax lottery windfall last year.

Governor Rick Snyder signed a law in April requiring lottery officials to tell Human Services about new winners.

Nicole was born near Detroit but has lived in the U.P. most of her life. She graduated from Marquette Senior High School and attended Michigan State and Northern Michigan Universities, graduating from NMU in 1993 with a degree in English.