On line publication Syracuse.com has reported a so-called lottery ticket fraudulence in nyc’s Syracuse area dating right back to 2006, that involves two brothers from central brand New York who claimed a $5 million lottery ticket offered at their family’s convenience store. Subsequently, they’ve been accused of scamming the winner out of his scratchcard winnings.

Now Being Charged

Second-degree attempted larceny that is grand fourth-degree conspiracy costs are actually being filed against 36-year-old Nayel Ashkar and Andy Ashkar, aged 34, who has also been charged with first-degree criminal possession of stolen property.

Following reports to a Syracuse newspaper by suspicious lottery security officials trying to find the true champion associated with the prize, the legitimate customer and owner of the lottery scratch-off came forward and was revealed as a daddy of two, aged 49, who had been duped by the brothers into giving up the winning ticket whenever he visited the Ashkar’s convenience store in October 2006 to cash it in.

Whether it was a ridiculous blunder, or perhaps sheer disbelief, the real champion regarding the ticket initially thought so it was a reward of $5,000 which he would be claiming, despite being told with a friend that it was in fact a $5 million jackpot. He was told by Andy Ashkar, upon trying to profit the ticket, he foolishly accepted that it was just a $5,000 prize and was offered $4,000 in cash from Ashkar in order to avoid paying tax on the winnings, an offer.

Fast Forward to Today

Five years later, after waiting patiently to cash the ticket set for its full worth, the brothers approached the lottery officials and claimed that they had delayed gathering their winnings in order to avoid affecting future family nuptials.

Luckily for the winner that is true it is routine for the lottery to scrutinize large wins, and upon doing so, protection officials became suspicious of the brothers who had told them to avoid promotion, they were willing to accept a smaller award than the $5 million the ticket entitled them to. As a result, local authorities were called in, and the subsequent investigation revealed the real owner.

But, the Ashkar brothers have pleaded not guilty to the charges brought that they purchased, and are the rightful owners of, the winning lottery ticket which would have seen them pocket the winnings in installments of $250,000 a year over the course of 20 years against them, and their legal representative claims.

Judge and Jury

The brothers have elected for a judge to rule on their case, rather than a jury, as the winner is presently pressing charges against the Ashkars.

‘ I feel better having it in the hands of somebody who’s trained lawfully, who knows the law and learn how to apply the legislation,’ explained one of many brothers’ protection attorneys. ‘Everything will probably be based upon the facts, and maybe not on emotion. Juries tend to the office on emotion, and everyone for a jury in this case would have a predisposition,’ the lawyer included.

Although we can not condone the actions associated with the Ashkar brothers who, presumably, saw a way to be millionaires at the cost of a gullible scratchcard player, there clearly was just so much sympathy we can give to the duped man whom was essentially attempting to evade national tax laws. Perhaps this will be an action which can be revisited later if the case falls in his benefit.

Moral of the story: Keep your lottery seats, and spend your taxes.