A Buffalo, New York, man has admitted he altered a Mega Millions lottery ticket to make it look he'd won a $252 million jackpot.

The New York Lottery today announced that as a result of an investigation by the Lottery's Security Unit in cooperation with the New York State Police and the Erie County District Attorney's Office, 26-year-old Yann Spindler of Buffalo, entered a plea of guilty to charges of attempted Grand Larceny in the fourth degree, in connection with an altered Mega Millions ticket Spindler presented at the Lottery's Buffalo Customer Service Center on August 26, 2009.

Spindler, originally from Georgia, entered his guilty plea on February 23, 2010 after admitting to investigators that he used a computer to alter an official New York Lottery ticket for the August 25, 2009 Mega Millions drawing to make it look like it was a jackpot-winning ticket worth $252,000,000. There were no jackpot winning tickets sold for the Mega Millions drawing held on August 25, 2009.

Lottery surveillance cameras at the Lottery's Buffalo Customer Service Center show Spindler presenting what he claimed to be a jackpot-winning ticket to Lottery employees for payment on August 26, 2009. Trained Lottery employees immediately contacted security personnel who, in turn, partnered with the State Police and the office of Erie County District Attorney Frank A. Sedita, III to investigate the matter. Upon his arrest, Spindler, a 2002 graduate of the New York State School for the Deaf, told police he altered the ticket because he wanted money to open a school for the deaf.

Lottery Director Gordon Medenica praised the coordinated efforts of the Lottery staff, State Police and Erie County District Attorney to bring this matter to a swift and decisive conclusion. "The New York Lottery remains committed to safeguarding the integrity of our games. I applaud the day-to-day efforts of Lottery staff statewide as well as the follow through demonstrated by the State Police and District Attorney's office. It confirms the strength of our internal controls and the support we receive from law enforcement authorities. Thanks to all for a job well done"

Spindler pleaded guilty to attempted Grand Larceny in the fourth degree, a class A misdemeanor. With the Lottery's agreement, he was released on a conditional discharge.

(Click to display full-size in gallery)Yann Spindler, 26, showed up at the Buffalo Customer Service Center last August presenting, what he claimed to be, was a winning ticket worth $252,000,000 from the August 25th drawing. The only problem was there were no jackpot winning tickets sold for that day.

(Click to display full-size in gallery)Yann Spindler, after giving the Buffalo Customer Service Center his altered Mega Millions lottery ticket.

A Buffalo, New York, man has admitted he altered a Mega Millions lottery ticket to make it look he'd won a $252 million jackpot.

The New York Lottery today announced that as a result of an investigation by the Lottery's Security Unit in cooperation with the New York State Police and the Erie County District Attorney's Office, 26-year-old Yann Spindler of Buffalo, entered a plea of guilty to charges of attempted Grand Larceny in the fourth degree, in connection with an altered Mega Millions ticket Spindler presented at the Lottery's Buffalo Customer Service Center on August 26, 2009.

Spindler, originally from Georgia, entered his guilty plea on February 23, 2010 after admitting to investigators that he used a computer to alter an official New York Lottery ticket for the August 25, 2009 Mega Millions drawing to make it look like it was a jackpot-winning ticket worth $252,000,000. There were no jackpot winning tickets sold for the Mega Millions drawing held on August 25, 2009.

Lottery surveillance cameras at the Lottery's Buffalo Customer Service Center show Spindler presenting what he claimed to be a jackpot-winning ticket to Lottery employees for payment on August 26, 2009. Trained Lottery employees immediately contacted security personnel who, in turn, partnered with the State Police and the office of Erie County District Attorney Frank A. Sedita, III to investigate the matter. Upon his arrest, Spindler, a 2002 graduate of the New York State School for the Deaf, told police he altered the ticket because he wanted money to open a school for the deaf.

Lottery Director Gordon Medenica praised the coordinated efforts of the Lottery staff, State Police and Erie County District Attorney to bring this matter to a swift and decisive conclusion. "The New York Lottery remains committed to safeguarding the integrity of our games. I applaud the day-to-day efforts of Lottery staff statewide as well as the follow through demonstrated by the State Police and District Attorney's office. It confirms the strength of our internal controls and the support we receive from law enforcement authorities. Thanks to all for a job well done"

Spindler pleaded guilty to attempted Grand Larceny in the fourth degree, a class A misdemeanor. With the Lottery's agreement, he was released on a conditional discharge.

(Click to display full-size in gallery)Yann Spindler, 26, showed up at the Buffalo Customer Service Center last August presenting, what he claimed to be, was a winning ticket worth $252,000,000 from the August 25th drawing. The only problem was there were no jackpot winning tickets sold for that day.

(Click to display full-size in gallery)Yann Spindler, after giving the Buffalo Customer Service Center his altered Mega Millions lottery ticket.

I am at a loss as to why it took so long to find this out, I mean everything is computerize, this information should have been available within weeks.  I hope he does some time so that if other lottery players are thinking of doing the same thing, they will have to do serious jail time.

This guy shouldn't have kids