RD's Deli and Market in Melrose, Massachusetts, will no longer be selling lottery tickets now that its owner has been accused of trying to scam a mentally disabled woman out of her winnings.
The woman bought a winning ticket worth $10,000 at the convenience store, but when she went to redeem it, the store's owner allegedly told her that the prize was only $1,000, and gave her $950 in cash.
Separate from the attempt to scam the woman, handing out that much cash is, in itself, a violation, as prizes over $600 must be claimed at one of six regional lottery office locations.
Finding it fishy, the woman told a family member about the interaction; the relative then got in touch with the Massachusetts State Lottery and provided identifying details about the ticket. Lottery officials were able to confirm that it had been sold at RD'S Deli and Market, and questioned the owner, who they say admitted to taking the ticket.
Luckily, he hadn't redeemed it yet.
The ticket was then returned to the woman, who claimed the prize on December 16.
Following a hearing at lottery headquarters on Dec. 11, the store's lottery license has been "indefinitely suspended," though lottery officials are looking to permanently terminate it.
Melrose Police and Massachusetts State Police are assisting in the investigation.
I like to think there's an extra-warm corner of Hell for those who prey upon folks like this woman, as well as those who take advantage of the elderly.
i hope there's a fair copy of hell on earth here for the evil git, before he ever tries the immortal one.
I'm glad this woman got her money back and hopefully this jerk gets his license permanently revoked and some jail time.
This greedy SOB. I bet what gave it away was telling her she won $1,000 but only giving her $950.
This may not be his first rodeo. A year in jail and $10k restitution, sounds just fine to me.
Since the article does not name of the owner who did the deed, l could not help thinking of a name we all familiar with...yeah that one : Patel.
A scam is bad enough . To scan a mentally disabled person is real low! This is plain & simple greed. Put these people in the Hall of shame, next to family who name start with a {P} which cheated players.
It was the owner that scammed her and his name is Chang Cho....
I agree, jail time for sure.
wow....racist much?????
I agree. Scammers are one thing, but taking advantage of someone like this is horrendous.
said in the article that State is considering taking lottery sales away permanent....THINKING,WHATS WRONG WITH YOU??????this should be a NO BRAINER!!! TAKE his license,take him to court and fine him and maybe jail or at least probation and put this on his record for life.People that use this store should stop going there and let him suffer and maybe lose his store.Other then that maybe bring back PUBLIC STONING to be held at Shafer Stadium on Sundays admition $5.00 plus (3) stones $5.00 all proceeds to go to helping disadvatanged children.
My only question is why is termination even a question. This guy violated about a half a dozen vendor rules and some laws. Forget suspension. This isn't even a he said/she said dispute. He admitted to scamming a mentally challenged woman. There is no argument he can bring to justify his actions except pure greed. He shouldn't be ever trusted with a license again. Next!
That would never be me because I check my own tickets and I sign the back of any winners in ink. Sometimes I feel like people just want to be taken advantage of. Personal responsibility is my thing
What goes around comes around,,,but those that dont have a heart dont care anyway...People just dont fear the here after.
Good to read that the winner was able to collect her winnings before it was cashed by the dishonest retailer.
Just cringe when folks hand their tickets to the retailer to have them check their tickets. See this often,even though N.J. has scanners for players to check their own tickets. Of course this situation was unique because the woman was disabled. Bad karma for this unscrupulous retailer.
l had no idea you were a Patel or related to one- my apologies.It was not a blanket Statement, but an opinion.
If you took the time to " research" some of the convenience store owners who have ripped people off in the recent past that name at times comes up.Now you educated, now you know.
Lets just stop with this " racist Bulls@#$%# comment shall we?
Huh, I wonder if this woman gave this $950 to the local police department when she presented the theft complaint.
I have to be a Patel or related to one to call you out on being a racist? I don't think so. The article talked about a store owner ripping someone off and you automatically assume it was someone from the East Indian community, news flash, you are a racist.
First Off: You are not the voice of reason here..
You called me a racist, which l know l clearly am not- l call you an idiot which l know you clearly are.l did not pull the name " Patel" out of a hat. Todd has on numerous occasions posted articles where people have violated the lottery commission rules. Thing is, he did not make up those names either, all you have to do is read the articles posted.
l asked you to do a research on the names- and it seems you did not. Well guess what, l did your homework for you. Listen up genius.
In Ohio; 2010 in a City called Ravenne, a certain Sadhuram Patel was charged with pocketing people money after telling them that they did not have a " winning ticket".
In Dunn NC; A woman won nearly $88,000 but when she went to check her ticket...a certain Sureshba Patel told her that she wasn't a winner and kept the ticket for himself. He was arrested and charged with felony larceny and attempting to obtain property by false pretenses
Oh My..Ketan and Chirag Patel had big plans to cash in on Florida Lottery tickets — but they weren't hoping for Lady Luck to work in their favor, deputies said.
Both men were arrested on extortion charges.
After Ketan Patel found out that an employee at his wife's convenience store was responsible for stealing about $5,000 in lottery tickets, instead of reporting the man to authorities, Ketan Patel threatened to have the man and his sister deported if he didn't hand over nearly $250,000, deputies said.
If any of the above individuals had names such as Smith, Jackson or Jenkins- l would have mentioned them - but the " Patels" rise to the top like cream.
Lets not even discuss a certain Orlando Hotelier Nik Patel who was arrested in a $159 mil Fed Fraud in loans he sold through his company..
** you really ought to pick your battles more wisely.. now run along and play.
that is a very small segment of the East Indian community. If there was an article about how someone got mugged and I jumped to the conclusion that the mugger is most likely named Tyrone or Jamal, then that would make me a racist against African Americans.
If there was an article about someone getting arrested for sneaking across the border and I jumped to the conclusion that the person's name must be Martinez, that would make me a racist against Latinos.
In this case, the article is about a store owner who ripped someone off and you immediately jump to the conclusion that the perpetrator was East Indian based on a small sample size. You are a racist. You need to stop spreading stereotypes. It's 2014 not 1950.
You such a freaking hypocrite- coming in here like you pure as the driven snow.Clearly you trying a win an argument without merit. What the F does crossing the border got to do with folks who are scamming innocent people of their money? Your attempting to take this topic in a direction that clearly incites taking sides. I think you are a Patel or of the Indian community which is why you being so militant about me naming these folk! I told you before- you are not the voice of reason here, you not walking with Angels here. I detest hypocrisy.
BTW- l think you dead from the neck up because instead of leaving things be, you want to prove your point , you have just as much faults as the next person, so stop being a self righteous twit.
The owner of RD's Deli by quick google search is Chang Cho. LMAO..close enough to Patel IMO.
I give the guy an A for effort for trying to scam the potato....lol
I'm not a Patel or part of the Indian community. I don't need to be. My race or ethnicity doesn't matter in order to call someone out on spreading stereotypes.
What the F does crossing the border got to do with folks who are scamming innocent people of their money?
You missed my point and I made it clear as day. The article talks about a store owner scamming someone and you bring up a stereotype about Patel, a common Indian surname. Then I bring up an example of someone getting arrested for crossing the border and I, in order to illustrate my point, use a stereotype and say the person who crossed the border must have been named, Martinez, a common Latino surname. You see how wrong it is to jump to such a conclusion when all sorts of people of different ethnicity enter the US illegally. Stereotypes are de-humanizing generalizations. People need to be judged on a case by case basis based on their actions.
"Dateline" did a similar story here in California five years ago of undercover "winners" hired by the California Lottery attempting to bypass the filing process and redeeming their $1,000 winners for $650 or something like that to avoid having the taxes or other back payments taken out. The clerks and stores that short-changed the claimants had their lottery licenses revoked. But taking advantage of a mentally disabled woman? Tsk, tsk.
Your original and subsequent posts show a high level of prejudice and an unwillingness to humble yourself and be empathetic toward others. One might suggest that you reread your posts in earnest... Name calling does not strengthen your very vile and prejudice views, nor does it aid in the enlightenment you seek to impart. Name calling furthers others views that you are insensitive, privileged, entitled and prejudice. You feel that you are entitled to your prejudice views, and so privileged that you believe OTHERS should do the "research" that supposedly qualifies your argument. You are wrong. Do some soul searching and try again, because right now you are failing at life.
Thank you for your input Rip van Winkle.- 3 posts in 4 years? Go back to sleep.Please!
PrinceRene, and others,
There's nothing racist about Patel comments. Instead of jumping to conclusions, accusing others, and getting on the pc bandwagon just use the Search feature on top of the page and do a search for Patel.
See what you find.