Lottery payout complicated by laser printer mishap

May 14, 2010, 7:54 am (33 comments)

Texas Lottery

Sign ticket with pen: Good

Use laser printer to 'type' endorsement: Bad

While the identity of the man who won a $48.8 million lottery prize in Alvin remains unknown to the public, a report released Tuesday by the Texas Lottery Commission shows the steps the agency took to verify the ticket's authenticity after it was damaged in a mishap with a laser jet printer.

The mystery man purchased his Texas Lottery ticket Oct. 18 from a self-service machine at the H-E-B Pantry grocery store in Alvin, where he was shopping with his wife and two children, the report shows. But after he became the sole winner of the jackpot on Oct. 21, he traveled a long road as he waited to see whether the commission would really pay up.

That's because his good fortune soured when he placed his winning ticket in a laser printer to type an endorsement on the back, the report shows. The heat generated by the printer turned the data on the front of the ticket black.

Forensics used

On Dec. 17, the ticket holder, acting through a group called MAED Trust, presented the damaged ticket — along with a second, non-winning lottery ticket purchased at the same time and place — to the commission to claim his money. The Lottery Operations Division's Security Department did forensic exams and verification efforts on the ticket, while the agency's Enforcement Division investigated the facts surrounding its purchase and damage.

Forensics analysis found some data still visible on the damaged ticket, including a partial retailer number, but some digits on the ticket were missing.

"Other than the damage to the front of the ticket making portions unreadable, visual inspection did not reveal any inconsistencies or evidence that should not have been present on a ticket for the prize claim," the commission's report states.

Enforcement investigators also took written sworn statements from the ticket purchaser; his attorney, Frank Putman of Houston; Putman's assistant; and a friend of the winner, who were all familiar with the circumstances of the case.

The purchaser and his friend were at the gym together the day after the lottery drawing when the ticket holder saw a TV report displaying the winning numbers. The numbers matched a ticket the man had, and he showed it to his friend, investigators learned. The ticket holder later contacted Putman, who called the commission.

The ticket holder also handed over photos of the winning ticket that he had taken before it was damaged, even though photos are not by themselves "acceptable evidence" to submit instead of an actual ticket as a claim for the lottery prize, the report shows. But the ticket data visible in the pictures were consistent with the ticket data reconstructed by forensic analysts.

Enforcement investigators also viewed H-E-B's security camera recordings showing the man buying the ticket at the time the transaction was recorded on the central computer system. They also examined a receipt showing the ticket holder's purchase of groceries at the store around the same time. Furthermore, the tear line between the damaged winning ticket and the non-damaged ticket he purchased matched, investigators found.

Security officials then performed a query for all transactions recorded on the self-service machine at the H-E-B on the date of purchase. They found only two of the 12 transactions made on the machine that day were for wagers, both being for Lotto Texas tickets. The serial number for the first transaction matched the non-winning ticket submitted by the purchaser, while the winning ticket was purchased eight seconds later, the report shows.

Investigators also found the serial numbers found on the back of the tickets indicated the roll stock paper used was assigned to an H-E-B store 9 miles away in nearby Santa Fe. Representatives for both H-E-B retailers confirmed the roll stock paper had been transferred from the Santa Fe store to the Alvin store when the latter location ran out of paper for its self-service lottery ticket machine.

Paid on Monday

On May 3 — more than six months after the ticket's purchase — the commission agreed to pay the money to the ticket holder. Although the total jackpot was for $76 million, the winner collected $48,877,977.02 because he had chosen the "Cash Value Option," allowing him to collect a lesser amount in one lump sum instead of opting for a 25-year payout.

The winner collected his money on Monday. His name has not been released.

The names of people connected to MAED Trust also remained a mystery Tuesday. Officials with the Texas Department of Banking and Texas Secretary of State say they have no paperwork on file for a trust by that name. R. Sells Neuhaus is listed as the trust's vice president, but he is not the man who bought the winning lottery ticket.

Thanks to lottoball for the tip.

Houston Chronicle

Comments

Raven62's avatarRaven62

Before handling Paper: It's important to know what Type of Paper it is: In this case the Lottery Ticket was printed on Thermal Paper with a Thermal Printer. Applying Heat to a Thermal Paper Lottery Ticket will all but make it Illegible and make it all but Impossible to Claim the Prize Money if not for Forensics.

sully16's avatarsully16

Good to know Raven, thanks.

Captain Lotto's avatarCaptain Lotto

The more you know...

You can also damage Lottery tickets with other heat sources.  An iron, for instance.  Putting it in the microwave when it gets wet is also a bad idea...  you must present a ticket to have a claim. 

This guy was really lucky there was such a "trail" and all the different pieces came together.

liberal47's avatarliberal47

When I had my big score, I scanned my ticket on my inkjet HP printer. No problems there. Then I put the ticket in a ziplock baggie, and then into my no fly zone. That's an area that I always know will be taken care of. My big fear with using a public copier would be forgetting to take the original ticket out of the copier once I had the copies.

adamc224

Quote: Originally posted by Raven62 on May 14, 2010

Before handling Paper: It's important to know what Type of Paper it is: In this case the Lottery Ticket was printed on Thermal Paper with a Thermal Printer. Applying Heat to a Thermal Paper Lottery Ticket will all but make it Illegible and make it all but Impossible to Claim the Prize Money if not for Forensics.

Also do not leave your ticket in a car in the spring or summer months or in direct sunlight... Always bring your ticket inside and store in a cool dark place... i had a $150.00 powerball winner that i almost could not clame because the barcode was damaged due to leaving it in the car. thankfully they manually entered the numbers and i got my money!!!

dpoly1's avatardpoly1

I always print my name and sign my ticket with a good pen. I then keep my ticket safely in my empty wallet!

US Flag

konane's avatarkonane

The winner was really lucky the lottery had so many forensic methods for ticket  authentication.  Congratulations to the winner!

RJOh's avatarRJOh

The only things I do to my winning tickets are highlight the winning numbers with a pink marker and sign them.  So far I haven't had a problem claiming my winnings which lately have only been $150 or less.

LotteryJunkiE99's avatarLotteryJunkiE99

Wow, what  a Juicy STORY!  And Informative Too !!      Approve

I Learned alot from this Article, but I mean, hasn't anyone heard of indelible ink?    Roll Eyes

I think its 7 dollars at most office supply stores.  LOL     I think my biggest fear with tickets is misplacing them, or spilling food on them.  or Orrrrrr get this............ having them fall in a puddle of mud!   The kind that is just not washable!  lol.... or orrrrr,   hmmm, having them fly out the window!!!       Yes Nod

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I am happy He was able to verify his winnings, and c'mon LP, one of has to win It Big this Year.... Personally, I'm rooting for Pumpi or Todd to win it all, and throw an LP Party Costume Party where we can all go and dance to whatever hip music there is, and well like any appreciative and good guest, just show up for the Good Food.   Hear that Pumpi and Todd, I want caviar and truffles at this Party.  LOL!!!      I LOVE YOU GUYS!  i LOVE LP.  !!!   StarSmileStarEmbarassedStarSmileStar

Party PartyPartyParty

rdgrnr's avatarrdgrnr

He wanted to sign his ticket with a laser printer?

That sounds like the kinda guy you'd like to grab by the back of the neck and shake him around like a rag doll for a few minutes.

Then give him a smack upside his head and hand him a friggin' pen.

Todd's avatarTodd

Quote: Originally posted by rdgrnr on May 14, 2010

He wanted to sign his ticket with a laser printer?

That sounds like the kinda guy you'd like to grab by the back of the neck and shake him around like a rag doll for a few minutes.

Then give him a smack upside his head and hand him a friggin' pen.

In one form or another, that was my first thought too.

increase's avatarincrease

So now we know what not to do.

I'm glad that the winner was able to collect the money. Big Smile

When I win, I will be safely inside with my signed ticket until the lottery office opens.

Raven62's avatarRaven62

Quote: Originally posted by rdgrnr on May 14, 2010

He wanted to sign his ticket with a laser printer?

That sounds like the kinda guy you'd like to grab by the back of the neck and shake him around like a rag doll for a few minutes.

Then give him a smack upside his head and hand him a friggin' pen.

The Endorsement was for a group called MAED Trust: Maybe he has rotten Penmanship! Thud

rdgrnr's avatarrdgrnr

Quote: Originally posted by Raven62 on May 14, 2010

Before handling Paper: It's important to know what Type of Paper it is: In this case the Lottery Ticket was printed on Thermal Paper with a Thermal Printer. Applying Heat to a Thermal Paper Lottery Ticket will all but make it Illegible and make it all but Impossible to Claim the Prize Money if not for Forensics.

I'll make sure to ask Sahib down at the 7-11 what kind of paper my ticket is printed on next time.

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