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Powerball 14 syndicate suing lottery winner for 'stolen' millions

A group of 14 are suing Powerball lottery winner Gary Baron for a share of more than $16 million they claimed he stole from his former fellow co-workers.

The angry group launched Supreme Court action late yesterday afternoon in an effort to recover some of the amount they claim they won as part of a workplace syndicate in late 2014.

The syndicate was offered recently a settlement from Baron of $4,000 per person, which they quickly rejected.

The former workmates of 49-year-old Baron have accused him of ripping them off to the tune of about $1 million each after taking the $16.7m Powerball win for himself.

The group of 14 have lauched legal action against Gary Baron. Source: Supplied.
The group of 14 have lauched legal action against Gary Baron. Source: Supplied.

Baron has admitted winning the lottery but said he did so with a separate ticket, and not the one purchased on behalf of himself and a group of workmates.

Earlier in the year the group of 14 workers from Toll based in Geelong went before Victoria’s Supreme Court to ask Tattslotto to reveal the details of the suspect winning ticket.


The 'Powerball 14' may also ask the court to freeze the winnings until the matter is resolved.

The group, as well as Baron and a woman believed to be his girlfriend, were part of a syndicate, which entered the lottery when major jackpots were up for grabs.

The goup known as the 'Powerball 14' have launched legal action. Source: Supplied.
The goup known as the 'Powerball 14' have launched legal action. Source: Supplied.

However, the group became suspicious of Baron after he started behaving strangely shortly after three winners across Australia shared in a $50 million jackpot in October, 2014.

Baron reportedly called in sick the day after the prize was announced and retired shortly afterwards.

The story took a coincidental twist when one of the couriers at the Toll logistics company was hired to deliver a bottle of champagne to Baron courtesy of Tattersalls.

Since winning the lottery, Baron has purchased a property in the Geelong suburb of Lara for himself and another for his son. He has also become the new owner of a $200,000 BMW M4 convertible.

In a recent confrontation with some of his former colleagues, Baron has again insisted he is the rightful winner of the millions, saying he would buy a beer for the group of upset workers when he is proven correct.

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News break – January 15