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Eastern Time (GMT-5:00) | $1M lottery winner pleads guilty to theft Massachusetts Lottery: $1M lottery winner pleads guilty to theft4.25 Rating:Swindled $21,000 from his oil company's customers LOWELL, Mass. — A Chelmsford, Massachusetts, man who won $1 million from a Massachusetts State Lottery ticket in 2009 will serve at least 18 months behind bars after he admitted to swindling more than $21,000 from his home oil company's customers, according to Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone. Michael Santaniello, 60, of Chelmsford, pleaded guilty in Lowell District Court last week to stealing money from more than a dozen of his clients, many of whom are elderly, by collecting deposits for service or repairs to home oil tanks and burners that he never completed, Leone said in a statement. Santaniello owns Mike's Oil Heat Service in Chelmsford. "This defendant targeted seniors, many of whom had been his customers for years, and took advantage of them by taking deposits for work he never intended to perform and materials he never provided," Leone said in a statement. The prosecutor said that a gambling addiction led Santaniello to cheat his customers. After Santaniello won $1 million in 2009, he won another $23,000 from the lottery over the next two years, Leone said. Santaniello gets about $35,000 a year after taxes through 2029 from his $1 million lottery win. "This case demonstrates how addiction, when left untreated, can lead a person to such despair and selfishness that they would manipulate and deceive vulnerable, trusting members of our community who deserve better," Leone's statement said, noting that a judge ordered Santaniello to also enroll in Gamblers Anonymous. Santaniello pleaded guilty to several charges, including four counts of larceny over $250 from a person over 60 years of age; six counts of larceny over $250; larceny by check over $250; larceny over $250 by false pretenses; and failure to return leased personal property, according to the district attorney's office. Santaniello was ordered to pay restitution to clients from Chelmsford, Billerica, Lexington, Burlington, Wilmington, Somerville, Bedford and Westford, Leone said. Lottery Post Staff We'd love to see your comments here! Register for a FREE membership — it takes just a few moments — and you'll be able to post comments here and on any of our forums. If you're already a member, you can Log In to post a comment. 42 comments. Last comment 3 months ago by . Seattle, Washington United States Member #121168 January 3, 2012 78 Posts Offline | | Posted: January 21, 2013, 6:58 am - IP Logged | |
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Ridge Runner - Oracle of the Appalachians Way back up in them dadgum hills, son! United States Member #74415 April 28, 2009 12433 Posts Offline | | Posted: January 21, 2013, 7:06 am - IP Logged | |
I guess gambling can be as big a problem as anything else if it gets a hold of ya as an addiction. I think I have too much of a dread for losing to ever fall prey to that. They say the first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem and that's probably the hardest thing for an addict to do. Heaven knows I'd admit my faults and flaws right away. If I had any.  | | |
U$A United States Member #106693 February 22, 2011 7595 Posts Offline | | Posted: January 21, 2013, 7:16 am - IP Logged | |
I guess gambling can be as big a problem as anything else if it gets a hold of ya as an addiction. I think I have too much of a dread for losing to ever fall prey to that. They say the first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem and that's probably the hardest thing for an addict to do. Heaven knows I'd admit my faults and flaws right away. If I had any. were here is you need us rdg, | | |
Housekeeper MICHIGAN United States Member #82269 October 28, 2009 13119 Posts Offline | | Posted: January 21, 2013, 8:26 am - IP Logged | |
Heating your home is expensive enough, and to add insult to injury, he took advantage of the elderly, more human garbage, throw away the key and keep his cell at a nice 60 degrees. | | |
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Abaco , Bahamas Bahamas Member #138183 January 21, 2013 1 Posts Offline | | Posted: January 21, 2013, 8:34 am - IP Logged | |
Wish yuh luck guys! :D | | |
S.E.Iowa United States Member #120520 December 21, 2011 534 Posts Offline | | Posted: January 21, 2013, 8:37 am - IP Logged | |
Heating your home is expensive enough, and to add insult to injury, he took advantage of the elderly, more human garbage, throw away the key and keep his cell at a nice 60 degrees.  Couldn't have said it any better,myself.
When I was a boy I was told that anybody could become President; I'm beginning to believe it. ~Clarence Darrow There ought to be one day - just one - when there is open season on senators. ~Will Rogers | | |
California United States Member #40719 May 31, 2006 4684 Posts Offline | | Posted: January 21, 2013, 8:41 am - IP Logged | |
Yeesh! There always seems to be some kind of negative story about people who win the lottery...talk about shady pasts! Better not buy a ticket unless you've got nothing to hide...it will all come out if you win,lol. | | |
United States Member #52818 May 21, 2007 1373 Posts Offline | | Posted: January 21, 2013, 8:54 am - IP Logged | |
Heating your home is expensive enough, and to add insult to injury, he took advantage of the elderly, more human garbage, throw away the key and keep his cell at a nice 60 degrees. this piece of garbage as U put it ought to feel the effects of 1600 to 1800 degrees in a small oven | | |
adelaide sa Australia Member #37542 April 11, 2006 2437 Posts Offline | | Posted: January 21, 2013, 10:14 am - IP Logged | |
the sweet thing is he is being paid by an annuity, so cant shirk on his repayments of debts. im not an ahole so i could never get into this sort of trouble. May " The lotto goddess may be blind and heartless, but she also has a wicked sense of humor. " mon/ lotto [8.8] tue/oz lotto [] wed/ lotto [8.8] thur/ power ball [] sat/ lotto [] sat /pools [] keno [21]20 scratch [] jan loss=[260.25] wins= 189; feb loss= [190.05] wins =182.6; mar loss= [311.9] wins = 107.35; apr loss= [320.30] wins= 107.50 2013 YTD loss[1032] wins = 585 2012 total spend =[2486.10], wins = 2176.70 ; year total = -$309.40 | | |
5+1 Winner Arizona United States Member #116287 September 7, 2011 14722 Posts Offline | | Posted: January 21, 2013, 10:17 am - IP Logged | |
18 month behind bars should be a good "treatment" for his illness? | | |
Chief Bottle Washer New Jersey United States Member #1 May 31, 2000 20636 Posts Offline | | Posted: January 21, 2013, 10:21 am - IP Logged | |
the sweet thing is he is being paid by an annuity, so cant shirk on his repayments of debts. im not an ahole so i could never get into this sort of trouble. Great point. | | |
RIGHT HERE!! United States Member #123302 February 17, 2012 997 Posts Offline | | Posted: January 21, 2013, 11:06 am - IP Logged | |
This rascal won another $23,000 after he won $1mil Dang!! have good honest people who have not won even once! | | |
mid-Ohio United States Member #9 March 24, 2001 15944 Posts Offline | | Posted: January 21, 2013, 11:31 am - IP Logged | |
It's hard to live or act like a millionaire when your million comes $35K yearly after taxes over 30 years. * The fundamentals of winning a lottery jackpot *
* play a lottery you can win *
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Windermere, FL/Franklin, TN United States Member #50670 March 1, 2007 478 Posts Offline | | Posted: January 21, 2013, 11:47 am - IP Logged | |
It's hard to live or act like a millionaire when your million comes $35K yearly after taxes over 30 years. . His payments are also only for 20 years. | | |
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