Woman charged with stealing $1 million lottery prize in New York from her cousin, police say
Her cousin agreed to pay her $50,000 in change for her claiming the prize from the $5 scratch off ticket that was bought in Glen Cove, New York, in accordance with the discharge.
Argueta informed her cousin that the lottery ticket truly solely received $20,000 and gave him an envelope with $13,436, claiming the remaining was taken out for taxes, in accordance with the Nassau County district lawyer’s workplace. Argueta even offered her cousin with cast paperwork from lottery officers detailing the winnings, in accordance with police.
The sufferer got here ahead to police after seeing the lottery official’s press launch stating that Argueta did declare the $1 million lottery ticket, in accordance with the discharge.
“This defendant exploited her cousin’s belief, allegedly mendacity and manipulating him with the intention of pocketing the lion’s share of his $1 million profitable lottery ticket for herself,” stated Appearing Nassau County District Lawyer Joyce A. Smith.
Argueta, who moved to Houston, Texas, surrendered to the Glen Cove Police Division on Monday and was charged with one depend of grand larceny within the second diploma and two counts of legal possession of a cast instrument within the second diploma.
CNN reached out to her lawyer listed on the court docket docket for an announcement however hasn’t heard again.
She was launched on her personal recognizance, in accordance with the court docket docket, and is due again in court docket on November 23. The District Lawyer stated that if convicted of the highest cost, Argueta is going through 5 to fifteen years in jail.
By the investigation, police stated they have been in a position to get well greater than $317,000 of the allegedly stolen funds from Argueta’s checking account which is being held.
CNN’s Hayley Wilson contributed to this report.