A man who won $2 million in a lottery, could be sentenced to 25 years

A man who won $2 million in a lottery, could be sentenced to 25 years

Tomorrow, August 22, the court will issue the final verdict in the case of Eddie Tipton, who, taking advantage of his official position, won $2 million in the lottery. It «shines» till 25 years of imprisonment.

In 2003 he began to work in one of the offices Off lottery Association (Multi-State Lottery Association) with a membership of 33 American lottery operator. The Association, which is a non-profit organization, carries out control over the choice of numbers in the winning tickets.

A man who won $2 million in a lottery, could be sentenced to 25 years

The leadership of the organization was entrusted to Eddie Tipton, and 10 years later he was appointed Director of information security. But then the administration didn’t know that he managed to enrich themselves long before his promotion.

In 2005, the man installed on the service computer disguised malwarethat «infected» all other devices which determines the winning combinations for different lotteries.

The algorithm number selection was changed, so that the Tipton knew what tickets any lottery operators will be the prize. To get the win in different States, he appealed for help to his friend and businessman Robert Rhodes, and his brother Tommy, a former Deputy Sheriff and magistrate.

The scheme worked five times: once in Colorado in 2005 (Colorado Lottery), once in Wisconsin in 2007 (Megabucks), twice in Kansas in 2010 (and 2by2 Hot Lotto) and once in Oklahoma in 2011 (Hot Lotto). The total amount «won» the brothers Tipton and Rhodes, was $2 million.

Received part of the money Eddie spent on the construction of private country houses with an area of 446 m2, with a cinema and gym. The building was erected on an area of 9 acres, pond.

When authorities became suspicious, they began an investigation. One of the clues was a recording from surveillance cameras in the small shop of the city of des Moines, Iowa, where he lived, Eddie Tipton.

The video was captured the moment when in December 2010 the man in the hood buys a winning lottery ticket Hot Lotto. Viewing this video, some staff and friends of the Tipton recognized him.

Eddie was fired immediately after his arrest in 2015. At the trial he admitted his guilt. Punishment will be assigned tomorrow.

It is expected that he will have to sit through five years for each offense, or 25 years in total. Assistant attorney General Iowa Rob sand said that such punishment would serve as deterrent to all who think about committing similar crimes.

Tommy Tipton in June and is serving a 75-day term of imprisonment, Rhodes will hear his sentence on August 25.

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