Lottery Winner Demands Payment After Crooked Clerk Pilfers Ticket

Gambling News - October 30th, 2009 - Written by Glen

Willis Willis, a 67-year-old man from Texas, recently won a $1 million dollar jackpot in the lottery. As an unemployed senior, this money would have made his life smoother, easier, and more fulfilling. Unfortunately, his winnings were taken by a wily store clerk who had cashed the ticket and fled town with the post-tax amount of approximately $750,000.

Pankaj Joshi, the accused, was an employee at the convenience store in which Willis purchased his tickets. Joshi had allegedly told Willis that the ticket that he presumed was worth millions was worth only $2 dollars, which Joshi presumably paid to Willis. Joshi was charged with lottery fraud, and it is suspected that he took the winnings and fled to his homeland of Nepal.

An enraged Willis is demanding that the Texas Lottery Commission pay his winnings despite the fraudulent activity. Roughly half of the money that Joshi purloined has already been reclaimed by U.S. banks. Willis may turn to a civil trial to reclaim his rightful winnings, though this may not come easy as the lottery commission is not liable for the clerks operating through the licensees, but rather the licensees themselves.

Willis has already secured an attorney, and has expressed his desire to avoid a trial. He wants his winning in full, primarily, so he claims, due to his failing health and desire to send his daughter to college. His attorney does not think a trial should be necessary, as the commission should rectify their error.

Willis stated that he will continue to play the lottery, though he is using a different retailer.

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