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NY man gets maximum sentence for stolen $5M lottery ticketNews Story
A former auto dealership manager convicted of possessing an apartment complex maintenance worker's winning $5 million New York lottery ticket was sentenced Tuesday to up to 25 years in prison by a judge who cited his rapacious greed. The Onondaga County District Attorney's Office said Andy Ashkar, 35, of Camillus, was sentenced Tuesday morning to the maximum sentence of 8 years, 4 months to 25 years for having the ticket that was stolen from his parents' convenience store in Syracuse in Octo
Jul 23, 2013, 5:09 pm - Lottery News

Relatives fight over estate of poisoned lottery winnerNews Story
The family of a Chicago businessman who died of cyanide poisoning after winning a $1 million lottery jackpot is disputing a deal he purportedly signed leaving his share of several dry cleaning stores to his wife. In an emergency motion filed Monday in Cook County probate court, the sister of Urooj Khan argued the business assets should be part of his estate and divided equally among his only two heirs Khan's widow, Shabana Ansari, and 17-year-old daughter, Jasmeen, from a previous marriage.
Apr 30, 2013, 7:20 am - Lottery News

Non-jury trial expected next week for lottery-thieving brothersNews Story
Two brothers accused of attempting to claim $5 million from the state lottery office with a stolen scratch-off ticket will waive their right to a jury trial, according to attorneys. (See NY brothers charged in plot to steal $5M New York Lottery ticket, Lottery Post, Nov. 14, 2012.) Andy Ashkar, 34, and Nayel Ashkar, 36, will opt on Monday to have County Court Judge Joseph Fahey decide their innocence or guilt, said defense attorney Robert Tisdell. Tisdell, who is representing Nayel Ashk
Apr 19, 2013, 2:57 pm - Lottery News

Judge throws out some charges against lottery-thieving brothersNews Story
An Onondaga County Court judge who dismissed attempted grand larceny charges against two brothers accused of stealing a winning $5 million lottery ticket in 2006 ruled the crime was beyond the statute of limitations. Judge Joseph Fahey upheld other charges brought against Andy Ashkar, 34, and Nayel Ashkar, 36, who are accused of taking a scratch-off lottery ticket from a customer at their father's convenience store on Oct. 27, 2006. Prosecutors contended that because the brothers waited to
Apr 16, 2013, 7:35 am - Lottery News

Baltimore man, 81, loses his home after falling for lottery scamNews Story
The first caller told Norman Breidenbaugh he had won $2.5 million in a foreign sweepstakes, but there was a catch: Breidenbaugh needed to send $2,000 in fees before collecting his earnings. Other calls followed, promising Breidenbaugh millions more even a Mercedes Benz as long as he would wire some money to pay taxes on the prizes. He obliged, sending more than $400,000 over about six years, hoping the promised winnings would cover his wife's medical expenses. The prizes never came. The pe
Mar 7, 2013, 9:01 am - Lottery News

Final Wyoming Senate vote on lottery bill coming FridayNews Story
A bill that would allow a Wyoming lottery and multi-state games such as Powerball received preliminary approval in the state Senate on Wednesday. The senate voted 17-to-12 to advance the bill. It already has passed the House and would need two more votes in the Senate. It's scheduled for its final vote Friday. The bill would allow a state lottery or multi-state games, but would not allow the sale of instant tickets, scratch-off tickets or electronic games. Supporters of the bill say Wyo
Feb 22, 2013, 7:03 am - Lottery News

DC lottery contract is the subject of a federal probe with numerous officials under scrutinyNews Story
A federal grand jury is investigating the awarding of the $38 million contract to run the District of Columbia lottery, a process that raises further questions about corruption in a city government already beleaguered by criminal prosecutions. Although no one has yet been charged in the lottery probe, authorities are looking for evidence of crimes including bribery and illegal steering of contracts, and numerous officials are under scrutiny, according to several people familiar with the probe
Dec 12, 2012, 9:01 am - Lottery News

Trial begins for man linked to double-murder by lottery ticketsNews Story
A Chicago man accused of fatally shooting a cashier and customer inside a Southwest Side convenience store in 2005 almost got away with it, but a trail that started with lottery tickets he'd purchased moments before the killings ultimately led police to him, prosecutors said Tuesday as the man's double-murder trial got underway. Timothy Fountain, 42, is charged with first-degree murder and armed robbery in the August 2005 shooting deaths of clerk Graciela Rodriguez, 37, and Nicholas Guerrero,
Oct 24, 2012, 7:35 am - Lottery News

Mich. lottery winner to plead guilty to felony firearm chargesNews Story
Man previously under fire for claiming welfare benefits after lottery win A Williams Township, Michigan, man who had nearly $1 million in cash two years ago and is now destitute and charged with four firearm-related felonies is set to accept a plea deal in Bay County Circuit Court. Leroy N. Fick, 60, is scheduled to make his plea before Circuit Judge Kenneth W. Schmidt at 8:30 a.m. on Sept. 4. Court records show that prosecutors have offered to dismiss two counts of felony firearm if Fick
Jul 26, 2012, 8:38 am - Lottery News

Montana Lottery celebrates 25 years of jackpot dreamsNews Story
The Montana Lottery celebrated its 25th anniversary late last month with parties at retail locations around the state and knowledge that it was on a roll. We had a successful first 24 years, said Montana Lottery Director Angela Wong, who's been in the role 18 months. And we just completed a record fiscal year, with sales of more than $50 million for the first time and weekly sales exceeding $1 million for an unprecedented 19 weeks. Fiscal year 2012 ended June 30, and preliminary data ind
Jul 23, 2012, 8:39 am - Lottery News