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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

Jamaica making new efforts to curb lottery scamsNews Story
Jamaican officials said Thursday that they are hopeful new legislation will finally result in a stream of convictions and lengthy sentences for fraudsters behind a multimillion-dollar lottery scam that has swindled mostly elderly Americans out of their retirement savings for years. National Security Minister Peter Bunting told reporters that the law reform act will result in a vastly accelerated number of successful prosecutions of swindlers who have made the island a center for cross-border
Mar 15, 2013, 10:48 am - Lottery News

Plea deal settles N.Y. lottery ticket trial; immigrant will get $2.5MNews Story
A plea agreement Friday in Rockland County Court has ended the case involving a Spring Valley, New York, immigrant's $3 million lottery ticket and three men accused of trying to steal a portion of it. Elfido DeLaRoca will get about $2.5 million before taxes over the next 15 years, while the three men will avoid jail on a theft charge. One of the men will get $300,000 from the winnings. DeLaRoca, 45, a Guatemalan national living with his fiancee and daughter, bought the $10 scratch-off tick
Feb 16, 2013, 8:02 am - Lottery News

$1M lottery winner pleads guilty to theftNews Story
Swindled $21,000 from his oil company's customers A Chelmsford, Massachusetts, man who won $1 million from a Massachusetts State Lottery ticket in 2009 will serve at least 18 months behind bars after he admitted to swindling more than $21,000 from his home oil company's customers, according to Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone. Michael Santaniello, 60, of Chelmsford, pleaded guilty in Lowell District Court last week to stealing money from more than a dozen of his clients, many of who
Jan 21, 2013, 6:34 am - Lottery News

Iowan gets probation for stealing lottery ticketsNews Story
A former Kanawha, Iowa, convenience store worker has been given a deferred judgment after stealing lottery tickets from her employer. Kimberly M. Bates, 40, Kanawha, pleaded guilty to second-degree theft, a Class D felony, in Hancock County District Court. Bates must serve three years probation and pay $1,039 in victim restitution. If the Iowa Department of Corrections deems it appropriate, she must also undergo mental health treatment. An additional charge of lottery forgery or fraud w
Oct 24, 2012, 8:37 pm - Lottery News

Honest: Idaho Lottery retailers pass 4-month security auditNews Story
Using undercover operatives and decoy high-tier winning tickets, the Idaho Lottery has concluded a four month investigation to protect the security and integrity of all its games. During the investigation, the Lottery evaluated cashing procedures of the decoy winning tickets at 128 of its 1150 retailers in 61 cities and towns across Idaho. The net result of the investigation showed that 100% of all Idaho Lottery retailers checked had met all of the security and integrity criteria. We believe
Sep 17, 2012, 11:27 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

Court: Police can collect $1M lottery prizeNews Story
The police in Medford, Oregon, can collect much of a $1 million prize from the Oregon Lottery that came from a scratch ticket bought with a dead woman's credit card, Oregon's appeals court has ruled. Oregon allows police to keep money seized in criminal activity. The winnings were awarded to the police when Christina Elizabeth Goodenow, 45, pleaded no contest to using the card that belonged to her boyfriend's mother said. For starters, Chief Tim George said, the windfall will be used to ex
Jul 13, 2012, 10:45 am - Lottery News

Ark. Lottery Commission denies tampering claimNews Story
The Arkansas Lottery Commission is denying allegations that it deliberately sold unsecure tickets that had a design defect that could easily lead to potential tampering. Assistant Attorney General Mark Ohrenberger submitted the statements Friday in legal papers in response to a lawsuit filed by a Little Rock man who claims he bought two $20 Arkansas Millionaires Club tickets that had been damaged. State officials also disputed claims that the agency deliberately allowed flawed tickets to r
Jun 6, 2012, 8:45 am - Lottery News

Woman arrested for trying to fake jackpot winning lottery ticketNews Story
Note to anyone thinking of gaming the state lottery: it never works. An Elgin, Illinois, woman tried to cash in on the record $656 million Mega Millions lottery jackpot with a ticket she bought online eight minutes after the winning numbers were drawn, officials said today. Leandria Williams, 28, was initially charged with wire fraud last week for falsifying documents. She has now been charged with attempted theft and forgery, according to the Cook County sheriff's office. An investigat
May 1, 2012, 3:40 pm - Lottery News