SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — A central New York maintenance worker duped out of a winning $5 million scratch-off ticket will get his money next month, seven years after being scammed out of the jackpot, state lottery officials said Thursday.
The Gaming Commission has verified that the ticket belongs to Robert Miles of Syracuse, officials at the agency said. He's expected to receive his jackpot within the next couple of weeks.
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.
