Lottery scam victims finally get $12.5M jackpot

Jan 28, 2011, 10:24 am (21 comments)

Canada Super 7

They had to wait seven years, but seven Ontario men each collected checks for more than $2 million Thursday, their share of a lottery win originally awarded to a woman now facing fraud charges.

The men, all friends and former co-workers who lay cable for a living, will each receive $2.1 million — their share of the original $12.5 million jackpot plus $2.3 million in interest for a total of $14.8 million split seven ways.

The men bought the ticket jointly while working together at a construction company.

"I'm just really happy," said Daniel Campbell, who along with the six other winners appeared at a press conference Thursday. "It's a big deal for myself and my family and I can maybe help them out and take care of them. I'm a little overwhelmed; a lot overwhelmed."

Two of the seven are brothers. One of them, Mike Maddocks of Beamsville, is celebrating his 36th birthday on Friday.

"It'll be nice to be debt free," he told a news conference. "I'll still work."

"This stuff doesn't happen to people like us," said Adam Barnett, 32, of Grimsby.

"We all worked together back then and we're all still friends," said Jim Reaman, 40, of Ridgeville. In 2003, they were all working in construction, laying fibre-optic cables and overhead wires.

The Super 7 jackpot of Dec. 26, 2003, was initially claimed by Kathleen Chung in a convenience store in Burlington, Ont., managed by her brother.

The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation paid out the $12.5 million to the Chungs in 2004, but there was deep suspicion the prize claim was fraudulent and the OLG continued to investigate.

Ontario Provincial Police laid charges of fraud and money laundering in the fall of 2010 against Kathleen Chung and Kenneth Chung, and their father, Jun-Chul Chung.

It was one of five cases identified in a 2007 report that accused the OLG of turning a blind eye to suspicious insider wins.

Database search key to finding winners

OLG chair Paul Godfrey said that OLG and OPP investigators were able to track down the rightful winners using its Data Analysis and Retrieval Technology system (DART), which did not exist in 2003.

After news broke that the original prize claim was fraudulent, the OPP and OLG had to sort through more than 650 claims to find the rightful winner, Godfrey said.

It was an exhaustive process, but one made easier by the DART system, said Godfrey.

Developed with the help of Hewlett Packard and Microsoft, the DART system can analyze billions of lottery transactions dating back to 1999.

Godfrey said it allows investigators to analyze play patterns that can help confirm legitimate winners and identify potentially fraudulent claims.

"It can create detailed ticket profiles, to help OLG to find, fight and prevent fraud."

"Motivated by a desire to right the wrongs of the past, an internal team set about creating this amazing technology," said Godfrey. "Together we have found the rightful purchaser of that Super 7 ticket."

The DART system "is used now on a daily basis but sadly did not exist in 2003," said Godfrey.

Without the development of this technology, the odds of finding and proving who purchased the winning ticket in 2003 would have been near impossible, said Mr. Godfrey.

"It was like finding a needle in a haystack," he added. "Well, we found the needle, and the haystack."

"Is the OLG now perfect? No, we're not," said Godfrey, "Is there a foundation for greater trust for our players and a warning against those who would engage in fraud? An emphatic yes, on both accounts."

The seven prize-winners are:

  • Daniel Campbell, 37, of St. Catharines, Ont.
  • Adam Barnett, 32 of Grimsby, Ont.
  • Jason Dykema, 34 Burlington, Ont.
  • Daniel MacGregor, 36, Burford, Ont.
  • Michael Maddocks, 35, Beamsville, Ont.
  • James Reaman, 40, Ridgeville, Ont.
  • Joseph Reaman, 35, Ridgeville, Ont.

Men plan to keep working

The seven men were jubilant as they appeared before the cameras, and said they all planned to continue working.

MacGregor said his plans were to "pay off the mortgage" and "probably buy a pretty expensive truck."

"It's a little surreal," said Joseph Reaman of the win. "I got a baby on the way and he's pretty much set for life."

Barnett said the win would help make his life easier.

"It will be nice to live mortgage-free, and pay off all your debts, help my family out," he said.

The Super 7 ticket was purchased at That's Entertainment in St. Catharines, Ont., in 2003.

That original ticket was redeemed at the Variety Plus store in Burlington — where Kenneth Chung was manager.

It won a free ticket, which was checked at the Burlington store and found to have the $12.5-million winning numbers.

At first, Chung allegedly called the lottery prize office, saying she was phoning on behalf of her brother who "owned" the ticket.

OLG plans civil lawsuit

The Chungs have been charged with fraud over $5,000, possession of the proceeds of crime, and money laundering.

They were released on a combined total of $700,000 bail — $500,000 for Kathleen and $100,000 each for her father and brother. They were ordered to surrender their passports and not communicate with each other.

Police seized or froze $10 million in assets from the family, including a $2 million house in Vaughan, a $1.3 million house in Oakville, five luxury cars, jewellery and electronics.

In addition to the criminal fraud charges the Chung family is facing, Godfrey said OLG will try and recoup the prize money through a civil lawsuit.

The free play at the heart of the story was issued at The Burlington variety plus on a ticket bought in St. Catharines. The free play ticket won the $12.5 million jackpot.

Police have alleged the store's scheme involved free play tickets and this one just happened to hit the jackpot.

Bits of information about the real winners were released by the OLG last September. Only the seven men who have claimed the prize were then able to match up all their answers with the full DART analysis, Godfrey said.

"The winners had to come forward," he said. "We are confident that we have the winners."

In all, 660 people came forward to try to claim the prize.

That free play ticket went on to win $12.5 million with the numbers 6, 8, 14, 25, 36, 41 and 42.

News story photo(Click to display full-size in gallery)

Lottery Post Staff

Comments

Boney526's avatarBoney526

I'm very confused by what happened here, but congrats to the rightful owners.

zerxfi

Quote: Originally posted by Boney526 on Jan 28, 2011

I'm very confused by what happened here, but congrats to the rightful owners.

the store clerk told them their ticket wasn't a winning ticket, then kept the ticket and claimed the prize for himself. That means you need to check a ticket yourself and never trust anyone.

time*treat's avatartime*treat

In all, 660 people came forward to try to claim the prize.

Oh, if only ... Red Devil

dallascowboyfan's avatardallascowboyfan

WOW!!!! Congratulation to the winners......

jatripko

I enjoy playing the lottery but I hate money. That is what happens when a person puts money first in his or her life. It's great to have but some times and will change your life for the worst. Good going guys glad to hear a good story like this. Those low life cashiers should have to lose every last cent they have or will ever have. More and more cashiers and store owners (Evil UhhNOT ALL) but most that do this every day should be made an example of. That's what happens when you do not check your tickest your self.

PartyGood luck to all lotto players.

RJOh's avatarRJOh

Quote: Originally posted by zerxfi on Jan 28, 2011

the store clerk told them their ticket wasn't a winning ticket, then kept the ticket and claimed the prize for himself. That means you need to check a ticket yourself and never trust anyone.

Sounds like it was a free play ticket that they never knew existed.  Players should keep up with games promotions to know when they are due something extra. 

Ohio had a free ticket promotion some years back and the clerk tried to convince me that the extra ticket printed when buying a $10 ticket didn't belong to the customer.  The next time I went in the ma/pa store, the manager told me she had to fire her because she was stealing six-packs of beer.

freeobama's avatarfreeobama

Me next!Banana

Rowen's avatarRowen

Don't know how someone can do that with a clear conscience. Really shady folks. karma something else huh?!!

time*treat's avatartime*treat

Quote: Originally posted by RJOh on Jan 28, 2011

Sounds like it was a free play ticket that they never knew existed.  Players should keep up with games promotions to know when they are due something extra. 

Ohio had a free ticket promotion some years back and the clerk tried to convince me that the extra ticket printed when buying a $10 ticket didn't belong to the customer.  The next time I went in the ma/pa store, the manager told me she had to fire her because she was stealing six-packs of beer.

Maybe she figured the beer wasn't for customers, either. LOL

ca-dreamin*'s avatarca-dreamin*

Quote: Originally posted by RJOh on Jan 28, 2011

Sounds like it was a free play ticket that they never knew existed.  Players should keep up with games promotions to know when they are due something extra. 

Ohio had a free ticket promotion some years back and the clerk tried to convince me that the extra ticket printed when buying a $10 ticket didn't belong to the customer.  The next time I went in the ma/pa store, the manager told me she had to fire her because she was stealing six-packs of beer.

I was also thinking it sounded like a free play they never knew about.

This story was very poorly written.

lotto2011

Congrats to the winners. Finally, closure.

RJOh's avatarRJOh

Quote: Originally posted by ca-dreamin* on Jan 28, 2011

I was also thinking it sounded like a free play they never knew about.

This story was very poorly written.

The story didn't have a lot of information because those OLG and OPP investigators didn't give any details about their Data Analysis and Retrieval Technology system (DART).  It's hard for me to believe they could track the buying habits of players without knowing who they were or if they bought all their tickets at the same place.

sully16's avatarsully16

WTG Guys, enjoy your long awaited winfall.Cheers

PERDUE

1.  The men bought the ticket jointly while working together at a construction company.

2.  The Super 7 ticket was purchased at That's Entertainment in St. Catharines, Ont., in 2003.

3.  That original ticket was redeemed at the Variety Plus store in Burlington — where Kenneth Chung was manager.

4.  It won a free ticket, which was checked at the Burlington store and found to have the $12.5-million winning numbers.

5.  At first, Chung allegedly called the lottery prize office, saying she was phoning on behalf of her brother who "owned" the ticket.

6.  Bits of information about the real winners were released by the OLG last September. Only the seven men who have claimed the

     prize  were then  able to match up all their answers with the full DART analysis, Godfrey said.

7.  That free play ticket went on to win $12.5 million with the numbers 6, 8, 14, 25, 36, 41 and 42.

                                                                       Crazy                    Shifty

   

 

Maybe this will clear up how these men were tracked down and found to be the rightful jackpot winners.

Congratulations to these gentlemen on their odd win.

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