Justice has finally prevailed for Robert Miles of Syracuse, N.Y. Seven years after being duped out of a winning $5 million scratch-off ticket, he will receive his winnings within the next couple of weeks, the Associated Press reports.
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The maintenance worker, who bought the ticket in October 2006, tried to claim his winnings at the convenience store where he purchased it, but things quickly went awry.
Miles bought the ticket bought in October 2006 at a Syracuse convenience store owned by Nayef Ashkar. Ashkar's two sons, Andy and Nayel, convinced Miles the ticket only was worth $5,000 and paid him $4,000 for it, authorities said. The brothers waited until 2012 to claim the jackpot, prompting an investigation by lottery officials.
Andy Ashkar, 35, of Camillus was sentenced five weeks ago to up to 25 years in prison for possessing the stolen ticket. He and Nayel, now 37, were cleared of conspiracy charges this year but Andy was found guilty of possessing stolen property.
Their father pleaded guilty this month to filing a false instrument, admitting he lied in a state lottery affidavit.
How did the Ashkars convince Miles that $5 million was $5,000?
Miles came forward last year after lottery officials announced that the Ashkar brothers had the winning ticket. During the siblings' trial, Miles testified that he was addicted to crack cocaine when he bought the ticket and was confused by what had happened to him when the Ashkars took it. In 2008, Miles filed for bankruptcy.
Read more at the Associated Press.
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