He definitely won the $1,000, but is the $1 million claim a fraud?
FALL RIVER, Mass. — The past of a Fall River man who claimed he won the lottery twice in one day is now being called into question. It turns out Phillip Brunelle, formerly known as Phillip Daggett, has been in legal trouble before for making false claims.
Brunelle said he bought a lottery ticket from a convenience store on East Main St. Sunday morning and won $1,000. He said he then went back into the convenience store, plunked down $20 for a Money Mania scratch ticket, and won again. This time the prize was $1 million.
The Massachusetts Lottery Commission confirmed Brunelle collected his $1,000 in winnings Tuesday afternoon. However, he still has not submitted the $1 million lottery ticket, which officials said is very unusual. In addition, the store where the winning ticket was reportedly sold has taken down a sign advertising the big win.
Brunelle's Past
An acquaintance of Brunelle's sent out an email to media outlets Monday, detailing Brunelle's past as Phillip Dagget.
In September, Brockton police charged him with making a hoax phone call claiming someone had been fatally shot.
Eight months earlier he reportedly saved an infant who swallowed a small light bulb by performing CPR.
In November 2006, he filed charges with city police saying he became ill from eating a drug-laced taco at Taco Bell. Police said the investigation revealed that claim was unfounded.
In 2004, he sued McDonalds after claiming he became sick from food at one of the chain's restaurants.
Brunelle was also the bartender at Puzzles gay bar in 2006 when 18-year-old Jacob Robida attacked customers with a hatchet and a handgun during a reported hate crime.
Brunelle has not been able to be reached since the email was sent.
The Massachusetts Lottery Commission said it does not get involved in any claim until someone presents a valid winning ticket. However, it said if and when Brunelle comes forward, the commission will send out a news release. The only place where Brunelle can submit the winning ticket is the Lottery's Braintree office. He does have a year to cash in the winning ticket.
How odd. I wonder why it was reported that he had won, when he didn't even turn the ticket in. Did he just contact the media and say "I won a million dollars on a scratch off!" and they ran the story?
Maybe he's taking his time in turning up the big winning ticket bc with all this past actions, to avoid more of the same things. You know, "cleaning up." Much like the arrested man earlier in the news should have done FIRST, to avoid, if only "the shame." Not that people have much of that now-days. It's amazing though, if this is a lie, what extents some people will go to, to get attention... seek publicty... or just be plain "prank-ish," as if they had nothing better to do with their time. Anyway, it never surprises me that kind of people that win,
and the kind of controversy that follows. When did the lotto become Hollywood? lol. I guess Money IS Hollywood. Anyway, I guess since anyone can play, as it should be, just saying, Wonder how many people don't play precisely to avoid their dirty laundry, or to avoid what can be a very sticky situation overall? Hmm.
"Did he just contact the media and say "I won a million dollars on a scratch off!" and they ran the story?"
That seems like a likely explanation. It's also possible that he told the store he won and they reported it in an effort to get the publicity. Assuming the reports about his past are true, he seems to have a penchant for making false claims that are likely to draw a moderate amount of attention, and perhaps result in financial benefit.
Thanks for posting Todd... I saw the first video as you know which showed the 2 tickets...I really thought for a second that this guy had won.. Another sad ending to what could have been a beautiful story!
All I can say is that people are just crazy! I work with the public all day 5 days a week and should write a book on the things that they tell me and the things that they do!
This is terrible--why would he falsely claim of winning a $1,000,000????
. And I was so nice in sending him a nice comment; perhaps this will teach me a lesson--I should be very careful who I send my congratulations to the next time..like seeing a copy of the winning ticket 1st!!!
Here is a life lesson,do not trust everything that you see. You need to dig deeper than its facade.
Maybe he knew people he had never met would be coming out from every where to congratulate him if they thought he won $1,000,000 even though they probably wouldn't give him the time of day other wise. I know if I won a large lottery prize and received notes from people I didn't know, I would throw those notes into the trash.