Thread: Store clerk accused of stealing $1M lottery prize

Store clerk accused of stealing $1M lottery prize

The Associated Press
10:38 a.m. October 21, 2009

AUSTIN, Texas — Authorities say a 25-year-old Texas convenience store clerk claimed $1 million in lottery winnings that belonged to a customer and left town, perhaps back to his native Nepal.

Pankaj Joshi (PAN-koj JOSH-y) was indicted in September on one count of claiming a lottery prize by fraud. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison. The indictment was unsealed this month.

Investigators say they believe a customer at the Lucky Food Store near Dallas asked Joshi in May to check his tickets for winning numbers, and that Joshi pocketed the $1 million ticket.

Investigators say Joshi claimed his $750,000 after-tax prize in Austin and disappeared. His co-workers told authorities they were suspicious because they never saw Joshi play the lottery.

http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/ ... dex=186535

I often get the feeling that many, if not most, foreigners come here just to see what they can steal from us.

i heard on the radio here in dallas that the guy went home to nepal, and that the texas lottery people have been able to recover most of the money via bank transfer.
This store is within 5 miles of where i live

Not condoning what the guy did, but what was the winner of the ticket thinking when he handed it over??? Especially to someone who can so easily skip the country?