SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The owner of a Syracuse, New York, convenience store was arrested this week on charges of conspiring with his son to steal a $5 million lottery ticket from a man who'd bought it at the store.
Nayef Ashkar, 56, was arrested Tuesday by an investigator with the Onondaga County District Attorney's Office on a charge of fourth-degree conspiracy.
Ashkar agreed with and encouraged his son, Andy Ashkar, in the taking and withholding of the $5 million winning scratch-off ticket from Robert Miles, according to a felony complaint filed this week in Syracuse City Court.
Nayef Ashkar owns the Green Ale Market on East Fayette Street, where the ticket was bought in 2006.
Andy Ashkar, 34, and his brother, Nayel Ashkar, 36, were charged last month with trying to claim Miles' ticket as their own in March. Miles told police he brought the ticket to Andy Ashkar six years at the Green Ale Market and tried to collect. (See NY brothers charged in plot to steal $5M New York Lottery ticket, Lottery Post, Nov. 14, 2012.)
Investigators from the DA's office developed evidence after the brothers' arrests that their father was involved in a conspiracy to cash the lottery ticket, District Attorney William Fitzpatrick said today.
Nayef Ashkar "participated in the conspiracy knowing that the thing was stolen and it actually belonged to another individual," Fitzpatrick said.
The father became aware of the ticket after it was stolen by his sons, Fitzpatrick said.
Nayef Ashkar was in his store on this afternoon. He acknowledged that he'd been arrested and said he was due back in court next week, but would not comment on the charges.
Court records show he was released on his own recognizance on the conspiracy charge, which carries a maximum sentence of four years in prison.
Miles, 47, said last month that he knew the ticket was worth $5 million when he brought it to the store in 2006. But Andy Ashkar told him it was worth $5,000, charged him a $1,000 fee and gave Miles $4,000, Miles said.
Andy Ashkar then took the ticket and drove away, with Miles chasing him down the road, Miles said.
Miles said he'd been high on crack cocaine the night before and wasn't in a condition to do much to try to keep the ticket. He said he no longer uses drugs.
Miles said he went back into the store once and asked about his winning ticket. Nayef Ashkar and his wife, Wafa, told him they didn't know what he was talking about, Miles said. He said he never went to the police about the case because he knew it would be his word against the Ashkars' until they came forward with the ticket.
Miles filed for bankruptcy in 2008, knowing that he should have been a multimillionaire.
The Ashkar brothers each face charges of attempted grand larceny and conspiracy. Andy Ashkar is also facing a charge of criminal possession of stolen property.
Thanks to kapla for the tip.
Surprise, surprise, surprise......
If you think you have a winnning ticket - of any amount- Sign it !
Crime never pays. These scum bags will learn the hard way. Maybe we shall see them on MSNBC prison shows.
Now the two brothers RAT OUT their Father, lol. lol. lol. No surprise there......... lol. lol. lol.
Crime pays all the time...... That's why the store was cashing large winning tickets for a fee.
I still think they did Miles a favor.... Imagine how his life may have gone with $5 million in crack.....
First a Child Molester winning a $1million scratch off now a Crack Head....
Crack heads and child molesters have "human rights"................
There are punishments for people who took advantage of others. Stealing is a major crime...and Conspiracy is a bad action too...Both of them should be put in jail and suffer the consequences of their actions.
So since the owner is involved aren't they (the lotto cops) suppose to take all lottery
machines/tickets/playslips ect...out of the store like in the Chris Hansen investigations
They should never be able to sell lotto again!
The family that steals together goes to prison together!
This is a first offence and therefore requires leniency..........
There's no honor among thieves and crack heads.
I think that would apply to illegal aliens as well................
Would these be the illegal aliens from other galaxies you are referring to.
That being the case, they should be cut some slack as they are most likely just visiting temporarily.
How insensitive of me....... I meant to say undocumented unofficial resident workers......... (UURW)
Quite alright old chum.
I had a feeling you meant the UURW's, but just wanted to be certain, in the event they were monitoring these posts today.
As you know the intergalactic aliens have my deepest respect, and per adventure they are involved in the selection process of who wins the next $588 million jackpot prize I want to say they have my full support.
Absolute, unequivocal, unrelenting, undivided, unyielding, undeniable, unmitigated support....
Just think how much each of us could accomplish, if we only had that omni-present, universal, unwavering, undieing support.
My number selections are NOT super duper secret, you may share them at anytime with anyone you like, and if you play my numbers and win you are welcome to keep all the money. Thanks. Ronnie316.
https://www.lotterypost.com/thread/247020/2823937
I'm going to throw a big party if I win mister JP tomorrow night.........
Its going to be in FL on a big boat..................
This is a picture of a BOAT..............
That is a mighty handsome boat!
Should be one hum-dinger of a celebration party.
As I'm not sure if I'm invited, you'll have to post the party picture highlights on your world famous thread.
Thank you, and I feel bad for the father who got ratted out.............
Perhaps he can get a job at the Rattery...............
It sounds like Father, like sons. Too sad. I hope the next generation wises up.
That might be true but most of the crack heads and thieves caught in this country are legal Americans.
Ok, but 17% of federal prisoners are illegals and its a much higher percentage in the great state of AZ.
A very high number considering illegals only represent 3% of the population.
They probably could have given the guy a million in cash and made over 2 million for themselves.
sweet dreams ronnie, dream of winning
Always know when your ready to sack out my sleepy friend!
Threw dad under the bus, what a swell family
Wat bout da ma. They say she run da
Store. She da mastermind. She
Dont mind Five mills.
Need 60 minutes or a similar show do a run on such criminals
Preferably an overloaded bus with snow spike tires.
You know the old saying, "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree".....
What goes around
It's truly sad that Middle Easterners already have a negative stigma among many and this episode just makes it worse.
The guy was engaged at the time of the fake win. She later starred in his fictional tale to explain why he waited so long to claim. I wonder what's going through her mind right now.
The ROTTEN apple falls in the EXACT same place!!
" The Father became aware of what his sons had done"..as a Father he bears the brunt of it all..He knew and went along with it. He got sucked into his Sons web of crime- he should have thrown them both under the Bus.
Perhaps you can find a way to support the unfortunate misunderstood Middle Eastern culture...