Police in Montreal say they've foiled a bizarre extortion and murder plot apparently aimed at a couple who pocketed a $27 million lottery jackpot last month.
An 18-year-old Mexican citizen was arrested Monday afternoon in a Montreal neighbourhood and arraigned yesterday for conspiracy to abduct, conspiracy to commit murder and other charges.
Edwin Scarlotte Mata Lima, who arrived in Canada four months ago, is alleged to have planned the murder of Zenovij Pacholuk and Dolores Coffey, winners of the second-largest lottery windfall in Quebec history.
According to Montreal police, Lima was planning a home invasion in Pacholuk and Coffey's house in the working-class LaSalle neighbourhood, after which the plan was to force Pacholuk to go to the bank to withdraw large sums of money — possibly as much as $10 million.
Investigators allege he was intending to then kill the couple.
"It's a very unusual case. We've heard of lottery winners getting harassed by people coming to the door and asking for money or donations, but nothing like this," said Const. Olivier Lapointe, a police spokesperson.
Police said they were told Lima was actively trying to buy a gun. They began following the suspect last Friday and decided to arrest him before he could arrange a successful deal.
But police said they don't believe Lima presented himself at the Pacholuk/Coffey residence — which he apparently found in the phone book — and that he never threatened the couple directly.
Lima is not known to have had any brushes with Montreal police, Lapointe added.
The TVA television network, citing police sources, said Lima first began telling friends and acquaintances about his plans in the days after the winnings were awarded.
The network said that while his associates first thought he was joking, one of them was sufficiently scared to go to the authorities.
Police wouldn't say how they uncovered the plot, but did say that when they learned of Lima's alleged intentions, they immediately notified Pacholuk and Coffey.
It turned out the couple were out of town with their 3-year-old daughter.
"We told them it would be a good idea not to sleep at home for a few days," said Lapointe.
Pacholuk and Coffey won $27 million in the May 26 drawing of Lotto 6/49. According to a Loto-Quebec press release from the time, the Ukrainian-born Pacholuk simply said "Okay" when a convenience store clerk told him he'd won the jackpot. He then handed back the winning ticket. He then phoned his wife and asked whether she'd be available to pop by the Loto-Quebec offices because "we've won a bit of money."
At the news conference to proclaim their winnings, the couple said their only immediate plan was to take their daughter to Walt Disney World.
Pacholuk, who like Coffey is an accountant, told the media throng, "We'll talk to the boss and we'll see. I want to take some holidays before making any decisions."
The lottery corporation's website states that "Loto-Quebec reserves the right to publish, for advertising purposes, the names, addresses and photos of winners."
This incident and the subsequent arrest are sure to raise questions concerning the privacy of winners.
Neither Pacholuk nor Coffey could be reached last night.
Winners deserve all the privacy they can get. Unfortunately, they only get all the privacy they can afford, which means winners pretty much have to allocate a percentage of their winnings to undoing the damage of the state lotto's media blitz.
"Police wouldn't say how they uncovered the plot, but did say that when they learned of Lima's alleged intentions, they immediately notified Pacholuk and Coffey."
What plot? A crime wasn't committed, was it? He didn't contact the family or even go to their home. Maybe I watch too many Law & Order shows, but I didn't think a person could be arrested on what he might be thinking. It's commendable that the police took the alleged threat seriously and did the right thing by warning the family. So I guess if you are a celebrity or a lottery winner, you are well protected by the authorities. If you're the average woman begging for a restraining order to keep some nutcase from stalking you, the standard answer is "we can't do anything until a crime has been committed." Of course this happened in Montreal, where they have a lot less crime than most American cities of its size.
Well, this should teach people who win that kind of money to be more cautious, especially with young children at risk. People always are quoted in the press "I just want life to go on as usual" but that's not realistic.
The article said that the guy got their name ouit of the phone book, so I don't think it had much to do with how cautiouis they were or weren't.
This is a darn good example of why jackpot winners should be allowed to be anonymous.
Justxploring
Re: "A crime wasn't committed". A crime wasn't commited in the Ft Dix bomb plot, either, was it? When the police can step in and stop a crime beofre it's committed, more power to them!
It's stories like this that will make it easier to stay anonymous after a win. It's only a matter of time before a lottery winner gets killed and a winner who warns the lottery that they might be in danger could win twice. Or their heirs at least.
Yet another reason to stay anonymous after a win. Better to have a trust as the winner and pay a lawyer to collect the check (better be safe on that one though).
Quote: Originally posted by justxploring on Jun 20, 2007
"Police wouldn't say how they uncovered the plot, but did say that when they learned of Lima's alleged intentions, they immediately notified Pacholuk and Coffey."
What plot? A crime wasn't committed, was it? He didn't contact the family or even go to their home. Maybe I watch too many Law & Order shows, but I didn't think a person could be arrested on what he might be thinking. It's commendable that the police took the alleged threat seriously and did the right thing by warning the family. So I guess if you are a celebrity or a lottery winner, you are well protected by the authorities. If you're the average woman begging for a restraining order to keep some nutcase from stalking you, the standard answer is "we can't do anything until a crime has been committed." Of course this happened in Montreal, where they have a lot less crime than most American cities of its size.
Well, this should teach people who win that kind of money to be more cautious, especially with young children at risk. People always are quoted in the press "I just want life to go on as usual" but that's not realistic.
well here again we have greed and "the love of money " trying to take someting that was not theirs ...
we live in a twisted society , just want thse people who won to be happy and try to stay together and raise the child with all that loot , I am sure there will be more death threats and stealing in the future it always happens ;
"This incident and the subsequent arrest are sure to raise questions concerning the privacy of winners".
Ya think ???
Winners deserve all the privacy they can get. Unfortunately, they only get all the privacy they can afford, which means winners pretty much have to allocate a percentage of their winnings to undoing the damage of the state lotto's media blitz.
Wow~very scary.....
"Police wouldn't say how they uncovered the plot, but did say that when they learned of Lima's alleged intentions, they immediately notified Pacholuk and Coffey."
What plot? A crime wasn't committed, was it? He didn't contact the family or even go to their home. Maybe I watch too many Law & Order shows, but I didn't think a person could be arrested on what he might be thinking. It's commendable that the police took the alleged threat seriously and did the right thing by warning the family. So I guess if you are a celebrity or a lottery winner, you are well protected by the authorities. If you're the average woman begging for a restraining order to keep some nutcase from stalking you, the standard answer is "we can't do anything until a crime has been committed." Of course this happened in Montreal, where they have a lot less crime than most American cities of its size.
Well, this should teach people who win that kind of money to be more cautious, especially with young children at risk. People always are quoted in the press "I just want life to go on as usual" but that's not realistic.
The article said that the guy got their name ouit of the phone book, so I don't think it had much to do with how cautiouis they were or weren't.
This is a darn good example of why jackpot winners should be allowed to be anonymous.
Justxploring
Re: "A crime wasn't committed". A crime wasn't commited in the Ft Dix bomb plot, either, was it? When the police can step in and stop a crime beofre it's committed, more power to them!
You got to move!! Impossible to stay in the same house after a big win like that. You are a sitting target. Atleast check into a nice hotel.
Let's not get upset.....yet>>>>unless U-WON
a big old $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ JACKPOT!
Master Mata Lima, citizen of Mexico,.............will be treated well
and sent on his way>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> south for a new and
better life in the USA.........................the Land of Milk and Money!
Hopefully, he starts a new business in running guns, "selling" a
pound of butter or a nice money laundry in DC (don't worry), this
KID is SMART and we must admire him for being PROGRESSIVE!!
AFTER>>>>>>>>>>ALL>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
HE's ONLY......."EIGHTEEN" !!!!!!
LOL all JACKPOT player's...........(keep your door's locked)
PSYKOMO
It's stories like this that will make it easier to stay anonymous after a win. It's only a matter of time before a lottery winner gets killed and a winner who warns the lottery that they might be in danger could win twice. Or their heirs at least.
Yet another reason to stay anonymous after a win. Better to have a trust as the winner and pay a lawyer to collect the check (better be safe on that one though).
well here again we have greed and "the love of money " trying to take someting that was not theirs ...
we live in a twisted society , just want thse people who won to be happy and try to stay together and raise the child with all that loot , I am sure there will be more death threats and stealing in the future it always happens ;
Hope it won't be necessary for a winner to be kidnapped or murdered before the lotteries understand they'll have to give the winners full anonymity.
Sadly in NY, winners can't be anonymous.
Wow! There are illegals in Canada, too?? I thought it was just in California, Arizona and Texas.