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Eastern Time (GMT-5:00) | Iowa man accused of lottery fraud for cashing ticket on friend's behalf Iowa Lottery: Iowa man accused of lottery fraud for cashing ticket on friend's behalfRating:Friend of lottery winner pleads not guilty By Kate Northrop CLIVE, Iowa — An associate of a lottery winner pleaded not guilty to lottery fraud after being accused of falsely cashing in a $50,000 winning scratch-off ticket. The Fort Dodge man was charged with one count of lottery fraud, a Class D felony classified as forgery or theft of a ticket, for turning in a winning lottery ticket that reportedly did not belong to him. Skyler Sturgis Hay, 29, allegedly committed the offense in 2018 when he visited Iowa Lottery headquarters in Clive with friend Nicholas Martin Hanson, 41, to claim a prize for a winning scratch-off ticket worth $50,000. However, the ticket belonged to Hanson, who owed Child Support Recovery, taxes to the state of Iowa, college student loans, and various other debts to "numerous entities." Hanson reportedly enlisted Hay's help in claiming the $50,000 prize to avoid paying off the debts that he owed. It's one of the reasons state lotteries require the identity of the winner upon claiming a prize to check for existing debts, including child support and taxes. Hay successfully claimed Hanson's winnings from the Lottery on Sept. 12, 2018. According to court documents, Hanson then spent "the majority of the proceeds" on luxury items, events, and substances, including a 65" Phillips Smart TV, a vacation to Las Vegas, tickets to a Minnesota Vikings game at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, signed football jerseys, and illegal narcotics including but not limited to marijuana. Court documents also state that Hanson had tried to recruit other individuals to help him collect the winnings before he turned to Hay. In February, Hay was charged with lottery fraud. A jury trial is scheduled to begin on June 29 at the Webster County Courthouse. Hanson, on the other hand, was charged with ongoing criminal conduct, a Class B felony, in 2019, as well as several other Class C money laundering charges in addition to lottery fraud and substance possession. His jury trial is scheduled to begin on April 6 at the Webster County Courthouse. Lottery Post Staff
Florida United States Member #209969 September 22, 2020 595 Posts Offline |  No such thing as easy money. it comes back to bite you in the end.
"My calculations are based on the SCIENCE of LETTERS, NUMBERS and ASTROLOGY," W.D.Gann | | |
Simpsonville United States Member #163182 January 22, 2015 2506 Posts Offline | A few years back @ a casino near Indy guy wins jackpot. Instead of taking him in a back room, they were rather uncouth as you couldn't help but hear them tell him he owed child support and this would be taken out of the jackpot win. | | |
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Zeta Reticuli Star System United States Member #30469 January 17, 2006 11545 Posts Offline | Sending in a 'beard' doesn't always work. Those who run the lotteries love it when players look for consistency in something that's designed not to have any. So many systems, so many theories, so few jackpot winners. 
There is one and only one 'proven' system, and that is to book the action. No matter the game, let the players pick their own losers. | | |
Bronx ny United States Member #158510 August 25, 2014 609 Posts Offline | Looks like Mr.Hay.'s "taxes" were worse than Minnesota's taxes. | | |
United States Member #72446 March 18, 2009 1366 Posts Offline | I wonder if Mr. Hay even knew his friend was a father and/or had huge other related uncancelable debts. Research people you want to become friends with. Having several millions of dollars in my financial accounts means receiving several valuable services each day! 
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Simpsonville United States Member #163182 January 22, 2015 2506 Posts Offline | Well the Iowa lottery does not play....look how long they investigated and got convictions in that infamous MUSL case. The book about it was a very good read and though it was like looking for a needle in a haystack they won in the end! | | |
Kentucky United States Member #32651 February 14, 2006 9128 Posts Offline | I wonder if Mr. Hay even knew his friend was a father and/or had huge other related uncancelable debts. Research people you want to become friends with. "An associate of a lottery winner pleaded not guilty to lottery fraud" and the fraud is "for turning in a winning lottery ticket that reportedly did not belong to him." If they're saying the legal owner is the person that purchased the ticket than anyone getting a scratch-off as a Christmas present and simply cashing a free ticket could get arrested. And how about the dumpster diving industry or someone finding a ticket in a parking lot? Most lottery rules and regulations are consistent and most players understand things like back taxes and child support could be deducted. Had neighbors ask me to get scratch-off and other game tickets for them and not any different than asking to purchase a gallon of milk for them. "Hay successfully claimed Hanson's winnings from the Lottery on Sept. 12, 2018." It looks like they're saying Hanson was the legal owner of the ticket, but Hanson said nothing watching Hay cash it. The jury trial will start on June 29 and Hay will remain not guilty depending on the outcome of the trial. Considering the Iowa Lottery hired someone that rigged multiple RNG drawings, it's easy to see why they want to know who purchased a winning ticket. But we're talking about the same lottery that changed their rules "to allow the sale of a "scratchless" scratch ticket". Sure would like to watch that trial just to see how the Iowa Lottery legally defines the owner of any ticket. *note to self; never buy a lottery ticket in Iowa It's not my fault! I voted for Amy. | | |
Norway Member #9517 December 10, 2004 1797 Posts Offline | Does that mean they had surveillance video of Hanson buying the ticket? | | |
NY United States Member #23834 October 16, 2005 4368 Posts Offline | "If they're saying the legal owner is the person that purchased the ticket" They're not, because they can't. They can try to sort out who the owner is, but they don't get to decide. The purchaser may buy a ticket on behalf of somebody else who would then be the owner right from the start, or the purchaser may own the ticket when they buy it and then legally gift it to somebody else. As long as the ticket was purchased legally the original owner can legally transfer ownership under normal circumstances. There may be a valid argument that the debts prevented the purchaser from lawfully transferring assets, but I'm not sure how completely that ties in the other guy to the charges. I'm sure the lottery will argue that he only pretended to be the owner, but how easy will it be to prove that? Can they prove the original purchaser got most of the money back and the things he supposedly bought weren't paid for with other money? Can they prove the purchaser didn't make a gift of the ticket and then the claimant felt obligated to give back gifts in return? | | |
Kentucky United States Member #32651 February 14, 2006 9128 Posts Offline | "If they're saying the legal owner is the person that purchased the ticket" They're not, because they can't. They can try to sort out who the owner is, but they don't get to decide. The purchaser may buy a ticket on behalf of somebody else who would then be the owner right from the start, or the purchaser may own the ticket when they buy it and then legally gift it to somebody else. As long as the ticket was purchased legally the original owner can legally transfer ownership under normal circumstances. There may be a valid argument that the debts prevented the purchaser from lawfully transferring assets, but I'm not sure how completely that ties in the other guy to the charges. I'm sure the lottery will argue that he only pretended to be the owner, but how easy will it be to prove that? Can they prove the original purchaser got most of the money back and the things he supposedly bought weren't paid for with other money? Can they prove the purchaser didn't make a gift of the ticket and then the claimant felt obligated to give back gifts in return? Another problem is the Iowa Lottery already gave the winnings to Hays believing he was the real owner. I just don't see the difference between Hanson buying the ticket and giving to Hays and someone buying scratch-offs as Christmas presents. "I'm sure the lottery will argue that he only pretended to be the owner" Hays became the owner when Hanson gave hit the ticket. It will be interesting to see how the lottery plans on proving when the ticket changed hands. Can they prove Hanson scratched and knew the value before giving it to Hays? It sure looks like Hanson gave the ticket to Hays to avoid paying taxes and child support, but what law did Hays break? It's not my fault! I voted for Amy. | | |
Simpsonville United States Member #163182 January 22, 2015 2506 Posts Offline | Not sure if you are saying MUSL and Iowa are one in the same. They are not and Tipton worked for MUSL. | | |
Racine, WISC United States Member #182048 May 29, 2017 1023 Posts Offline | I see NOTHING wrong with what they did. So if I have a winning ticket, I cannot GIVE IT (as a gift) to a friend of mine?? Thats BS. Jon Be obsessed or be average. | | |
Louisiana United States Member #191892 August 27, 2018 730 Posts Offline | So, the legal owner is the person that purchased the ticket as recorded on video surveillance. The lottery has access to the transaction. 😁✨🌟 All number sets are contenders until the drawing occurs. | | |
50 Chief Bottle Washer
New Jersey United States Member #1 May 31, 2000 26180 Posts Online | I see NOTHING wrong with what they did. So if I have a winning ticket, I cannot GIVE IT (as a gift) to a friend of mine?? Thats BS. Jon If you just wanted to gift your friend the lottery ticket with no strings attached, then that's fine. But that's not what happened here. This guy gave it to the friend to redeem so that they could avoid paying back taxes, child support, etc., and then the friend gave most of the winnings back to the original winner. That's illegal. It's like declaring bankruptcy while secretly hiding assets from the court. That puts you in jail. | | |
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