January 22, 2025 3 min read

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Oregon: Man Sentenced for Theft from Poisoned Parent

The young man who stole money from his father to spend on traveling, gambling and alcohol, was sent to prison for 2.5 years

A young man, whose father was poisoned under mysterious circumstances, stole hundreds of thousands of dollars to use for personal expenditures, including alcohol and gambling, was recently sent to prison in Oregon.

Lobbyist Son Goes to Prison for 2.5 Years over Theft

The criminal case involves Earl “Joey” Gilliam III, the son of Joe Gilliam, a recognizable lobbyist in the state. The latter was poisoned under mysterious circumstances on two occasions. In the end, Joe Gilliam was left in a vegetative state, while his son enforced a power of attorney, taking thousands of dollars belonging to his father. But it wasn’t long before the unlawful actions were uncovered and resulted in charges against Joey Gilliam.

Back in March 2024, he pleaded guilty to one charge of criminal mischief and four counts of aggravated theft. The defense of the young man sought a probation sentence, but prosecutors wanted to send him away to prison for 52 months. Joey Gilliam’s sentencing came earlier this month after Clackamas County Circuit Judge Jeffrey S. Jones sentenced him to prison and restitution, as announced by Willamette Week.

The judge sentenced Joey Gilliam to a total of 30 months or 2.5 years in prison. In addition, he was ordered restitution of $372,000. After Joey Gilliam served his time in prison, he was also sentenced to go through three years of supervised release.

During the sentencing, Joey Gilliam’s fiancée, Anna Harvey, asked the Judge to sentence the young man to probation. The woman said that her partner has undergone treatment for mental health issues. Harvey also said that Joey Gilliam was a “great dad” to her two daughters. Only one of the children was from Joey Gilliam. “If he goes to prison, it will change our daughters’ lives forever,” his fiancée said.

However, Judge Jones explained: “The guidelines set forth for downward departure don’t apply.” He added that even if that was the case, probation isn’t a suitable sentence given the man’s crimes.

Mysterious Poisonings Leave the Young Man’s Father in a Vegetative State

Gilliam senior was first poisoned in 2020. It is unclear if a single person was responsible for the act, but the man was able to recover before his second poisoning in the first half of 2021. The second time Joe Gilliam was poisoned left him incapacitated, unable to feed, speak or take care of himself.

The poison that left the man in a vegetative state is believed to be thallium, an incredibly toxic metal that is highly soluble in water and can be easily absorbed through the skin of a person. Infamous as “Inheritance Powder” and “The Poisoner’s Poison,” thallium is responsible for the death of many people who had been poisoned without even knowing. This is because the toxic metal is odorless and tasteless, making it undetectable for the victim.

After Joe Gilliam was left in a vegetative state, his son received access to his assets, including his bank accounts. Joey Gilliam then spent roughly $400,000, which was used for expenses related to gambling, alcohol, as well as traveling and new cars.

Journalist

Jerome brings a wealth of journalistic experience within the iGaming sector. His interest in the industry began after graduating from college, where he regularly participated in local poker tournaments. This exposure led him to the growing popularity of online poker and casino rooms. Jerome now channels all the knowledge he's accrued to fuel his passion for journalism, providing our team with the latest scoops online.

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