A judge sentenced a former Hoosier Lottery security official to eight years of home detention for revealing to two men the store where they could buy a winning $1 million scratch-off ticket.
William C. Foreman, 62, faced up to 50 years in prison but accepted an agreement in which he pleaded guilty to a single felony count of disclosing confidential lottery information. Marion Superior Court Judge Grant Hawkins sentenced him to 20 years and then suspended 12 years.
"I stand here now in front of you embarrassed, remorseful. I take the blame for what I did," said Foreman, who was sentenced Friday. "To this day, I still cannot say why I did it."
He was accused of telling two Shelbyville men in 2004 that a winning ticket in the lottery's "$2,000,000 Bonus Spectacular" game could be bought at a grocery store in Cross Plains in southeastern Indiana's Ripley County.
Prosecutors said the men then bought every ticket for that game available at the store — $640 worth — including the winning ticket.
Last May, the Indiana Court of Appeals rejected a claim that the charges should be dismissed because the potential penalty was too severe.
Foreman, a retired Indianapolis Police Department sergeant, resigned from his $52,800-a-year lottery job in September 2004.
The two other men, Chad R. Adkins, 31, and Daniel J. Foltz, 34, pleaded guilty to theft in June 2005 and agreed to testify against Foreman. They each were sentenced Friday to one year on probation.
The two split the first $50,000 installment of the prize in 2004, but now they must repay that money to the lottery.
A judge sentenced a former Hoosier Lottery security official to eight years of home detention for revealing to two men the store where they could buy a winning $1 million scratch-off ticket.
What's eight years of home detention? Watching T.V., working in the garden, enjoying retirement? Things he was planning to do anyway if those other two crooks had given him his share of the loot.
I agree, that sentence was WAY too light. He should at least have to reimburse all the people who bought tickets thinking they had a chance of winning.
Quote: Originally posted by LuckyLilly on Mar 3, 2008
I agree, that sentence was WAY too light. He should at least have to reimburse all the people who bought tickets thinking they had a chance of winning.
Reimburse? You can't squeeze blood from a turnip. I will agree the sentence was light however.
'Foreman, a retired Indianapolis Police Department sergeant, resigned from his $52,800-a-year lottery job in September 2004.'
This may have been the very reason why the sentence was light ..because he was a civil servant to begin with prior to his lottery security position. Besides that, he was 62 years old. He made a mistake and he knew it. A little bit of greed must of kicked in as he got closer to retirement.
I agree with everyone here that the sentence was way too light, but it also raises a bigger question that no one seems to be asking; and that is HOW did he know where the winning ticket was going to be sold? I thought no one was supposed to know that! ... Especially lottery officials!!! I guess it stands to reason why so many winning tickets are in certain zip codes ... I've noticed that for a while now in both NY and NJ. Makes you say hmmm. The other story about all the winners in a little NY store lends itself to the same issue.
Quote: Originally posted by Feisty1 on Mar 3, 2008
I agree with everyone here that the sentence was way too light, but it also raises a bigger question that no one seems to be asking; and that is HOW did he know where the winning ticket was going to be sold? I thought no one was supposed to know that! ... Especially lottery officials!!! I guess it stands to reason why so many winning tickets are in certain zip codes ... I've noticed that for a while now in both NY and NJ. Makes you say hmmm. The other story about all the winners in a little NY store lends itself to the same issue.
I hear ya... something's just don't seem right ... and it's called 'inside information'. I'm sure there's alot of corruption going on .. most of it never makes it to the public. But I'm sure it's happening everyday.
I agree with everyone here that the sentence was way too light, but it also raises a bigger question that no one seems to be asking; and that is HOW did he know where the winning ticket was going to be sold? I thought no one was supposed to know that! ... Especially lottery officials!!! I guess it stands to reason why so many winning tickets are in certain zip codes ... I've noticed that for a while now in both NY and NJ. Makes you say hmmm. The other story about all the winners in a little NY store lends itself to the same issue. [Quoted from Feisty1]
Exactly, there seems to be something wrong with the "System" Lottery, not the participants who play a part. >Michael J. Smith
A judge sentenced a former Hoosier Lottery security official to eight years of home detention for revealing to two men the store where they could buy a winning $1 million scratch-off ticket.
What's eight years of home detention? Watching T.V., working in the garden, enjoying retirement? Things he was planning to do anyway if those other two crooks had given him his share of the loot.
I agree, that sentence was WAY too light. He should at least have to reimburse all the people who bought tickets thinking they had a chance of winning.
Reimburse? You can't squeeze blood from a turnip. I will agree the sentence was light however.
the judge must've been havin a very good day.... because this sentence is way too light.....but then again he might have had a very good lawyer.
'Foreman, a retired Indianapolis Police Department sergeant, resigned from his $52,800-a-year lottery job in September 2004.'
This may have been the very reason why the sentence was light ..because he was a civil servant to begin with prior to his lottery security position. Besides that, he was 62 years old. He made a mistake and he knew it. A little bit of greed must of kicked in as he got closer to retirement.
They have a t.v. show on thats called GREED.
I agree with everyone here that the sentence was way too light, but it also raises a bigger question that no one seems to be asking; and that is HOW did he know where the winning ticket was going to be sold? I thought no one was supposed to know that! ... Especially lottery officials!!! I guess it stands to reason why so many winning tickets are in certain zip codes ... I've noticed that for a while now in both NY and NJ. Makes you say hmmm. The other story about all the winners in a little NY store lends itself to the same issue.
I hear ya... something's just don't seem right ... and it's called 'inside information'. I'm sure there's alot of corruption going on .. most of it never makes it to the public. But I'm sure it's happening everyday.
Can't wait to read Jim695's commentary on this one!
Indiana lottery rigger faces 50-year penalty
Feisty1, your question hit me immediately as I read this story. "How in da HELL was HE supposed to know where a certain winning ticket was?!?"
Besides that, if you're GOING to cheat, WHY would you tell TWO people when ONE will do?? That's just ASKING for trouble!
I agree with everyone here that the sentence was way too light, but it also raises a bigger question that no one seems to be asking; and that is HOW did he know where the winning ticket was going to be sold? I thought no one was supposed to know that! ... Especially lottery officials!!! I guess it stands to reason why so many winning tickets are in certain zip codes ... I've noticed that for a while now in both NY and NJ. Makes you say hmmm. The other story about all the winners in a little NY store lends itself to the same issue. [Quoted from Feisty1]
Exactly, there seems to be something wrong with the "System" Lottery, not the participants who play a part. >Michael J. Smith
I agree.