Police: Store clerk conned La. lotto winner out of $800,000
Posted: 9/26/2008 11:29:55 PM
A lottery loser may have been a big winner after all.
A joint investigation by Louisiana State Police and the state's Lottery Corporation determined on Wednesday that a clerk at a Belle Chasse convenience store conned a jackpot winner out of his ticket and a payoff of $800,000.
The purchase of the ticket took place in late May, according to local media sources.
When the owner brought the ticket back to the store to claim his prize, the clerk allegedly told him he was mistaken and kept the ticket.
Investigators said Melissa Trahan, 27, later sent the winning slip to her mother in Mississippi. That woman, Gwen Landry, drove to Baton Rouge and cashed it in for the big prize, state police said.
Months later, the actual purchaser contacted authorities, convinced he did indeed buy a winning ticket. That prompted the investigation this month.
"I hope she gets the maximum penalty that she can get by law, because this is a shame," said Cathy Chaisson, who had just purchased her own tickets in Belle Chasse. "The person who played the ticket should be getting the money."
What money the rightful owner will recover is not yet known.
Investigators said they believe the suspects accepted a lump sum payment of $560,000 and were planning to move to an unknown location when they were arrested on Wednesday.
State Police recovered bank records, two handguns and a small amount of marijuana when they executed a search warrant at Trahan's Belle Chasse home.
A sum of $389,000 was subsequently located in a Mississippi bank account. Those funds have been frozen.
Thanks to petergrfn for the tip.
Source: WDSU
