CBS News reported that a $3 million lottery ticket was allegedly stolen by a store clerk and a co-worker in Massachusetts.
$3 Million Lottery Ticket Stolen
A winning $3 million lottery ticket left behind by a customer was allegedly stolen by a store clerk and her co-worker in Massachusetts. They are both indicted by a grand jury.
The Plymouth District Attorney’s Office said that Carly Nunes, 23-year-old was indicted by a grand jury last week and was charged with one count of larceny from a building, witness intimidation, attempted larceny, and presentation of a false claim.
On the other hand, 32-year-old Joseph Reddem who was with Nunes was charged with one count of attempted extortion. The two are expected to be arraigned soon.
Prosecutors said that on Jan. 17, an unidentified man entered a Lakeville liquor store and purchased a bag of potato chips alongside 4 lottery tickets, he also purchased Massachusetts State Lottery Quick Picks for the Mega Millions lottery and also two for the Mass Cash lottery.
To increase the jackpot prize the unidentified man added a multiplier to his Mega Millions ticket to increase the jackpot prize, while Nunes placed the order and printed two lottery tickets.
The man left the store without his lottery tickets, forty-five minutes later, Nunes rang up another customer who purchased five lottery tickets, the other customer received two extra tickets and immediately returned to Nunez.
Prosecutors said that Nunes took the tickets.
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$3 Million Lottery Ticket Investigation
The Mass Millions ticket numbers were announced as the winning jackpot later that evening. Two days later, Nunes and her boyfriend together with Reddem drove to the Massachusetts State Lottery Headquarters and showed the ticket which was determined to be worth $3 million.
Nunes and her boyfriend celebrated but were interviewed by Massachusetts Lottery investigators because Reddem and Nunes were overheard arguing about the amount of money that Reddem would get.
Lottery officials opened an investigation and informed Nunes that she would receive the prize after the investigation.
The investigators discovered that Nunes had not purchased the winning ticket and Nunes suddenly changed her story. The investigation worked for a month and located the man who left his winning tickets behind found on February 13.
The $3 million jackpot will be honored to the man, the Massachusetts State Lottery Commission says.
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