POWERBALL winner Edwin Castro's cousins wore matching dark suits, huge Covid face shields, and black masks for their first appearance in court amid their car theft scandal. Jean Pierre Castro and his brother Byron Castro have been accused of selling sports cars on consignment and pocketing the cash. The news has allegedly left the lottery winner and car enthusiast stunned after he was pictured with the brothers, and he is "re-evaluating his relationship" with the pair.
The pair has been sued by two alleged victims and Jean Pierre, 33, is now criminally charged with 24 counts including grand theft and grand theft auto. Bryan, 38, is listed as a co-defendant charged with procuring or offering false or forged documents to be filed, registered, or recorded. The brothers entered guilty pleas on Monday at Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach.
Read More Edwin Castro They wore dark suits with their hair slicked back, while Jean Pierre opted for a pair of black Converse sneakers and Byron chose to wear black dress shoes. It was a dramatic appearance, as they tried to hide their faces after arriving in a blacked-out Lincoln SUV. An eyewitness said they stood in line at the traffic window looking confused before going through security.
The Castro brothers took off their Covid masks as soon as they got into the courtroom and sat for hours without protection as they waited for their case to be heard. Most read in The US Sun At one point, Byron was seen laughing with his brother as they sat at the edge of the room and kept their heads away from view. Court records show they have retained attorney Paul S.
Meyer from Costa Mesa who has 30 years of experience in criminal defense. They spoke only to say "Yes, your honor" as Judge M. Marc Kelly set a pre-trial hearing for October 15.
The duo was running a classic car business in Laguna Beach, California , called Alphamotive Motors LLC. Deputy District Attorney Deborah Einhorn was present in court for the hearing. The defendants were released on their own recognizance on the condition that they do not associate or participate in vehicle sales or vehicle business for the duration of the case.
He had absolutely no involvement with the transactions. They must also avoid breaking the law and appear at all court hearings. Multiple insiders confirmed they featured in photographs published in late December by The U.
S. Sun when Edwin was seen checking out a car shop with his entourage. A source at the time said Edwin was interested in buying the property in Burbank and even mentioned a full cash offer.
"It's not for sale but the owner is entertaining serious offers, he's had the family business for 45 years and it's a great set-up in an amazing location," the source said. "He has been bombarded with calls about the place recently, so there is some serious competition and it would be over $6 million, the price would need to be right. "Edwin is serious about buying a garage and said he can pay for a place in cash, he'd been shopping around and he'd want to do a lot to a place and make it his own.
" A representative for the multi-millionaire insisted he did not go into business with his cousins and was unaware of the allegations against them until informed by The U.S. Sun.
In a statement, his attorney Michael G. Freedman said, "Edwin Castro was completely surprised to learn of the allegations against Jean Pierre and Byron Castro. "He had absolutely no involvement with the transactions and issues that led to the criminal charges, and he is re-evaluating his relationship with them.
" It is believed Edwin grew closer to his cousins after hitting the jackpot in November 2022, as he is interested in classic cars. He has grown his collection which currently includes a black Porsche 911 Turbo Coupe, which costs an estimated $135,491. Edwin has also been seen driving a white Porsche around while shopping for real estate, along with a vintage green 1970s Porsche 911 SC, believed to be worth around $50,000.
His cousins are defendants in two civil lawsuits, one of which has already been dismissed and the alleged victim declined to comment. Assistant exclusives editor Katy Forrester has been following the story of Edwin Castro's win for more than a year. Here she gives her opinion on the latest case with his cousins.
EDWIN Castro's lottery win has been far from a dream situation, despite him banking more than $600 million after taxes. The famous adage "more money, more problems" couldn't be more true when it comes to the biggest lottery winner in history. He's been accused of cashing in a stolen ticket by a Los Angeles gardener who is still fighting him in civil court, despite his team insisting he bought the Powerball slip.
And now two of the people closest to him, who have shown a great interest in him buying a collection of expensive cars and doing restoration work, are alleged crooks. It's hard to feel sorry for someone who has so much money, but according to research wealth can lead to an increase in fear, anxiety, and dissatisfaction. Castro has bought million-dollar homes, fast cars, and other luxuries, but he's not stress-free.
He became a high-net-worth individual and ended up in the spotlight overnight, which can be hard to navigate. Many big lottery winners take a good look at their social circle after hitting the jackpot, they are weary of who they let in, and who they keep in. Castro has to be careful.
It is not known how close he was to the cousins before the win, but I'm not surprised he is now reevaluating his relationship with them. He will want to invest in the right business opportunities and make wise decisions with his winnings, and at only 32 it can't be easy. I know he has a good team around him and is given advice regarding everything from his finances to PR, as he tries to keep his feet firmly on the ground.
This is an unfortunate family drama that allegedly nobody saw coming and will no doubt give Castro pause for thought when it comes to his friendships and relationships. If his cousins are convicted I hope this puts a stop to their dealings and there are no future victims. And I hope the Powerball winner can move forward, succeed in business, and achieve happiness.
The second suit involves the owner of a 1967 Ford Mustang Fastback who entered into a consignment agreement with Alphamotive Motors, LLC in July 2023. According to court documents, the company listed the Mustang in Laguna Beach "for an appropriate sales price based on fair market value ($249,000.00) and paying proceeds to Plaintiff, in exchange for a commission (5%).
" They then allegedly sold the vehicle for only $185,000, below market value, and misled the buyer into believing the title was in their possession. The alleged victim claims that he requested in writing to retrieve his Mustang for a car show, not knowing it had been sold. Alphamotive is accused of intentionally withholding the vehicle with claims of a fictitious paint chip repair "in preparation for potential sale" which led him to believe they still had the car.
The filing adds, "An investigation was opened followed by criminal charges being submitted to the District Attorney of Orange County. "As a result, the Mustang was entered into the NCIC system as stolen and since then Plaintiff has lawfully recovered his Mustang. "The purpose of this Complaint is to obtain appropriate damages and/or restitution as well as to obtain declaratory relief that Plaintiff has always been the lawful and valid owner of said Mustang.
" Read More on The US Sun The U.S. Sun visited the showroom for Alphamotive LLC in Laguna Beach but the sign has since been removed and they are no longer in operation.
The brothers, along with the lawyer in court representing them, declined to comment on Monday ahead of the pre-trial hearing..
