A Westborough, Massachusetts man faces a charge of larceny in the alleged theft of a lottery scratch ticket believed to be a $20,000 winner.
According to the ticket buyer, the lottery agent claimed the ticket was only worth $100 and then refused to return it to the buyer.
Erika Schmitt, 18, said Monday she bought a lottery ticket and scratched it while at a Quick Mart convenience store in Westborough.
"I was scratching and it was all stars, 10 stars. And I said, 'I think I won $20,000 because I have 10 stars,' and he snatched it out of my hand," said Schmitt.
"So she was just scratching and he grabbed it right away and said, 'No, you only won $100,' and told her to get out and spend her money," said Schmitt's friend Virginia Orlando.
Schmitt said she asked the clerk to let her check the ticket repeatedly.
"(Schmitt asked the storeowner) 'Let me see the ticket,' and he would not let me see it. He absolutely would not let me see it to make sure it was only six stars. He would not give me the ticket," said Schmitt.
Quick Mart storeowner Antoine Reyche was in court Friday after Schmitt contacted the police.
Reyche refused to produce the ticket for authorities. The Massachusetts Lottery Commission told investigators that a $20,000 ticket was in the group sent to the Quick Mart. Schmitt had another ticket purchased at about the same time.
Westborough police say Schmitt has a good case. On Friday, the lottery stopped sales at the Westborough Quick Mart.
"With the numbers that we have from the tickets that were bought afterwards, along with the confirmation from the lottery commission that there was a $20,000 ticket sold, " said Westborough police Chief Alan Gordon.
Reyche will return to court on Monday for a formal arraignment.
Schmitt, a college freshman, lives with an ill aunt and said they could really use the money.
"He took advantage of her, he basically robbed her. She didn't want to get him in trouble. He stole $20,000 from her. Nobody needs it more than her," said Schmitt's friend, Billy.
According to the Westborough police report, Reyche tried to pay Schmitt an additional $100 to drop her claim. She refused and contacted police.
if found guilty, i certainly hope they throw the book at that guy and shut down his lotto terminal for good...and the gall of him offering her another $100 if she keep quiet about the incident. if what she says is true, and the article sure seems to support her claim, she deserves a whole lot more back from that fellow than just the prize money. i'd love to sit on that jury :)
This sad story reminds me of dumb people who always ask the clerk to check their ticket when they have a big win. I don't know if it's because of shock or what, but I would never need to confirm with the store clerk whether or not my ticket was a winner and how much it was worth. If you can read, there's never any need to hand over your ticket to anyone!
I think people ask the store clerk to check their ticket simply because they can't believe that they won and they need someone to "validate" it. I'm not surprised this happened though. Greediness never takes a holiday off.
I agree with all the sentiments thus far. But I was thinking about the disclosure from The Massachusetts Lottery Commission of a $20,000 ticket being distributed at that location. I wonder how are large prize winning tickets distributed? Is it completely random? How would one be sure of that? Would a lottery commision be more likely to distribute big winners to less affluent communities for obvious reasons? For example, I live in Toronto, and it seems to me that you hardly ever hear of big lotto winners around here. We got that Belleville, Ontario winner last week but that's many hundreds of miles away for Toronto.
Does anyone have any thoughts or insights into the process regarding ticket distribution?
That's why I tell anyone, the agents are supposed to give you a ticket showing you how much you won off the ticket. If they don't give it to you, ask for it. Even if it is only for $2, If you feel you have a big money ticket winner. Write down the numbers of the ticket before you turn it over to be cashed. People are not to be trusted.
If I understand correctly the lottery system here in Virginia does not know where winning tickets go and that it is completly random. At least that is what I read a couple of months ago.
That is correct. In VA, the only place where Scratcher "master winning" lists are kept are at the manufacturer who produced the ticket. From what I understand of the process, these lists are kept on two computer disks, neither of which has enough complete information to identify a specific winning ticket without the other. The validation prize table information is loaded into the central computer to be used in validating the tickets.
Ticket shipments are controlled by a completely separate system at the central warehouse. Packs are sent to the retailers out of the warehouse on as random a basis as you can get in this type of system. What I mean by that is this:
An order is placed for a specific game (say "Blackjack") by the retailer.
The order is processed by the computer, telling the warehouse worker that the store need X number of packs of "Blackjack".
The warehouse person goes to where the "Blackjack" tickets are, and grabs the X number of packs.
The packs are sent to the retailer for sale.
Since the warehouse is sending packs out on a "They need X number of packs" basis and not a "Give them pack #xxxxxxxxx", and since the computer systems are completely separate (they are even on different platforms), Scratcher distribution, as to packs, is as completely random as possible.
Of course, if you work for the lottery you can't play; but, if you are crooked lottery employee, you can tell a friend what store to go buy a ticket at and split the winnings!
Also, remember the scandal of the McDonald's monopoly game with the warehouse workers who printed the prize winning game stickers stealing them every year for 6 years? It makes you want to give up playing!
if found guilty, i certainly hope they throw the book at that guy and shut down his lotto terminal for good...and the gall of him offering her another $100 if she keep quiet about the incident. if what she says is true, and the article sure seems to support her claim, she deserves a whole lot more back from that fellow than just the prize money. i'd love to sit on that jury :)
This sad story reminds me of dumb people who always ask the clerk to check their ticket when they have a big win. I don't know if it's because of shock or what, but I would never need to confirm with the store clerk whether or not my ticket was a winner and how much it was worth. If you can read, there's never any need to hand over your ticket to anyone!
This guy is a real Loser!
in new york state 99.5%
I think people ask the store clerk to check their ticket simply because they can't believe that they won and they need someone to "validate" it. I'm not surprised this happened though. Greediness never takes a holiday off.
If you think you won... SIGN your ticket!!! It's that easy...
retailers can't pay out big amounts anyway, you have to claim them at the state's lottery office anyway.
The only exception to signing your NAME on the ticket is if you plan to use a trust's name, but still put in address and phone info...
a signed ticket is no longer HOT...
I agree with all the sentiments thus far. But I was thinking about the disclosure from The Massachusetts Lottery Commission of a $20,000 ticket being distributed at that location. I wonder how are large prize winning tickets distributed? Is it completely random? How would one be sure of that? Would a lottery commision be more likely to distribute big winners to less affluent communities for obvious reasons? For example, I live in Toronto, and it seems to me that you hardly ever hear of big lotto winners around here. We got that Belleville, Ontario winner last week but that's many hundreds of miles away for Toronto.
Does anyone have any thoughts or insights into the process regarding ticket distribution?
all games are fix by the gover
That's why I tell anyone, the agents are supposed to give you a ticket showing you how much you won off the ticket. If they don't give it to you, ask for it. Even if it is only for $2, If you feel you have a big money ticket winner. Write down the numbers of the ticket before you turn it over to be cashed. People are not to be trusted.
i was wondering exactl
retailers usually have to a
If I understand correctly the lottery system here in Virginia does not know where winning tickets go and that it is completly random. At least that is what I read a couple of months ago.
time,
That is correct. In VA, the only place where Scratcher "master winning" lists are kept are at the manufacturer who produced the ticket. From what I understand of the process, these lists are kept on two computer disks, neither of which has enough complete information to identify a specific winning ticket without the other. The validation prize table information is loaded into the central computer to be used in validating the tickets.
Ticket shipments are controlled by a completely separate system at the central warehouse. Packs are sent to the retailers out of the warehouse on as random a basis as you can get in this type of system. What I mean by that is this:
Since the warehouse is sending packs out on a "They need X number of packs" basis and not a "Give them pack #xxxxxxxxx", and since the computer systems are completely separate (they are even on different platforms), Scratcher distribution, as to packs, is as completely random as possible.
Of course, if you work for the lottery you can't play; but, if you are crooked lottery employee, you can tell a friend what store to go buy a ticket at and split the winnings!
Also, remember the scandal of the McDonald's monopoly game with the warehouse workers who printed the prize winning game stickers stealing them every year for 6 years? It makes you want to give up playing!