Her cousin agreed to pay her $50,000 in exchange for her claiming the prize from the $5 scratch off ticket that was purchased in Glen Cove, New York, according to the release.
Argueta told her cousin that the lottery ticket actually only won $20,000 and gave him an envelope with $13,436, claiming the rest was taken out for taxes, according to the Nassau County district attorney’s office. Argueta even presented her cousin with forged paperwork from lottery officials detailing the winnings, according to police.
The victim came forward to police after seeing the lottery official’s press release stating that Argueta did claim the $1 million lottery ticket, according to the release.
“This defendant exploited her cousin’s trust, allegedly lying and manipulating him with the aim of pocketing the lion’s share of his $1 million winning lottery ticket for herself,” said Acting Nassau County District Attorney Joyce A. Smith.
Argueta, who moved to Houston, Texas, surrendered to the Glen Cove Police Department on Monday and was charged with one count of grand larceny in the second degree and two counts of criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree.
CNN reached out to her lawyer listed on the court docket for a statement but hasn’t heard back.
She was released on her own recognizance, according to the court docket, and is…
Source : cnn
