Robert Miles, a Syracuse maintenance man who had been duped out of winning $5 million scratch-off ticket in 2006, will receive his money in September, state lottery officials said on Thursday.
The Gaming Commission verified that the winning ticket belonged to Miles, and is due to receive his jackpot. Miles bought the winning ticket at a convenience store only for the cashier to tell him the ticket had been worth $5,000, and paid him just $4,000 for it. Andy and his brother Nayef Ashkar waited until 2012 to claim the jackpot, which initiated an investigation by lottery officials, news reports said.
Andy Ashkar was sentenced in July to up to a 25 year prison sentence for criminal possession of the ticket while Nayel had been cleared of conspiracy charges. Their father Nayef, who owns the Green Ale Market , also pleaded guilty, and admitted that he lied in a state lottery affidavit.
"(Nayef Ashkar's) involvement is minimal when compared to his son" Assistant Beth Van Doren said in court on August 1. "But for the first time, he will be acknowledging his involvement." He had been promised a three year conditional discharge in return, meaning he will not serve any jail time. "A felony conviction is sufficient," she added. "He will have no opportunity to sell, own or be near lottery tickets for the rest of his life. I think that is sufficient."
Miles came forward after lottery officials announced that the brothers had the winning numbers, which began a trial in hopes of Miles receiving his earnings. Miles testified that he had been addicted to crack cocaine when he bought the ticket.
Miles will have the option of selecting a lump-sum payment of $3,210,000 that would yield $2,124,378 after taxes, news reports said.
Miles' lawyers said this week that he was "elated the lottery prize has finally been awarded to him."
