A Toronto man who claimed a $1-million lottery prize is now facing charges after an OPP investigation concluded the winning ticket was meant to be shared among three people. Police allege he kept the full amount despite a group play arrangement.
A Toronto retiree who collected a $1-million Lotto Max prize has been charged after police allege he failed to divide the winnings with members of a group play. The man, who previously appeared in an OLG news release celebrating the win, is accused of claiming the entire jackpot despite the ticket belonging to three people.
According to the OPP, the OLG’s forensic unit reviewed information suggesting the prize was part of a shared arrangement. The findings were referred to the OPP’s Investigation and Enforcement Bureau, which launched an inquiry in September. Police say the investigation confirmed the ticket was not solely his and that the winnings should have been split equally among the group.
The man has been charged with theft over five thousand dollars, fraud over five thousand dollars and possession of property obtained by crime. He has been released from custody and is scheduled to appear in court in January. The allegations have not yet been tested in court.
