Powerplayer:
We've taken this case to no fewer than five different law firms, one of which was in Chicago, the rest here in Indiana. We never heard back from Chicago, but three Indiana attorneys have told us that what we have is "probably sufficient to convict on at least three RICO predicates (wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and misappropriation of public funds)." That's the good news. The bad news is that none of them are willing to file the case because, and I quote, "...the statehouse can make it very difficult for us to make a living."
We're still waiting to hear from the fourth Indiana attorney. He's had the file for about a year now, but at least he hasn't said, "No," and until he does, we'll continue to wait. We check in with him periodically, but until something major breaks in the newspaper, he probably won't do anything to endanger his own livelihood. We can't blame the attorneys for that.
The most obvious answers don't always provide the easiest path to one's goals, and this situation is a prime example. We've had interviews scheduled with print and TV reporters, only to have those interviews mysteriously canceled at the last minute, without explanation. After that, the reporters won't even take our phone calls.
We've shown our evidence to three state representatives, all of whom agree that what we have proves the Hoosier Lottery is fixing their games. They were appalled, indignant, disgusted and amazed, but they refuse to do anything about it, except to protect their secret source of non-accounted funds. Representative Alderman pretended to introduce a bill which would have overhauled the Hoosier Lottery, requiring them to use mechanical draw machines and to televise live drawings (which is already required by state law). The bill sailed through committee, but then died when the democrats staged a walkout. Many other, less important bills were resurrected and eventually passed, but the lottery bill was left to rot. Given all the problems this agency has suffered since its inception, I find it somewhat incredible that the Hoosier Lottery has never been audited, sued or otherwise thoroughly investigated in its entire seventeen-year history.
There have been investigations, such as the one conducted by the Marion County Grand Jury when the Build Indiana Fund mysteriously went bankrupt. It came as no surprise when they announced that the results of their inquiry were "inconclusive," but imagine how shocked I was to learn that the legal counsel for the now-bankrupt Build Indiana Fund, one Janna Shisler, had suddenly secured the same position with the Hoosier Lottery! Recently, someone from the Marion County Grand Jury (I don't have this person's name handy, but it's on their website) accepted a position with the Hoosier Lottery while the scratch-off ticket scandal was still being investigated. This place stinks like last year's Easter eggs.
Quite frankly, I couldn't care less if you believe the Hoosier Lottery is crooked. I've presented enough evidence on this forum in various threads to provide you with sufficient research material to change your mind, should you be open to the option.
The standard argument here seems to be, "The Hoosier Lottery can't possibly be crooked, because look at what would happen if anyone found out about it." Well, someone did find out about it, and now we know what happens. Nothing happens; not to them; nothing bad, anyway. What does happen is that people who were working for the investigative body charged with looking into the scratch-off ticket scandal (Marion County Grand Jury) accept positions with the Hoosier Lottery, even before the investigation is closed. Another thing that happens is that hundreds of millions of dollars simply vanish, with no explanation or accountability. Laws are passed to exempt their authors from suffering any penalties or consequences for violating any other laws they write to govern us.
For the fifth time, I'll state that we've met with or contacted over fifty state and federal agencies and individuals (reporters, attorneys, state reps, etc.) about this crooked lottery. Those who are in a position to do something about it don't want anything done about it. All the others either express their sympathy or are just not interested because they don't live here.
We've spent a considerable sum on gasoline, hotel rooms, copy fees and phone calls over the past three years. Nobody gave us that money; it came out of our pockets. We spend this money knowing we'll never get it back. We could buy Hoosier Lottery tickets with the same expectation, but if we spend it to go after these crooks and thieves, we actually have a chance to win, so we feel it's money well spent.
Those of you who choose not to believe a state lottery can or would do these things are certainly entitled to your opinions. The evidence we have will stand on its own merit, so I would appreciate it if, in the future, you would take the trouble to look at the evidence we have, or, barring that, to at least read the many posts on this subject before suggesting that our efforts are worthless.