Lottery News

Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, on Tuesday, announced that twelve individuals and three lottery stores in the state were indicted in an alleged case on the ongoing scheme to launder lottery winnings from the Massachusetts lottery and thus avoid paying taxes.

The Massachusetts State Lottery Commission (MCLC) along with the State Police found that twelve people conspired to evade taxes in a calculated scheme to defraud the state of taxes on the lottery winning and other debts.

All twelve people were indicted on Friday by a State Grand Jury on charges including conspiracy to evade taxes, attempting to impede or obstruct state tax laws, money laundering, and also providing false statements under penalty of perjury.

The Massachusetts Lottery also accused that the defendants lied under oath on a number of lottery claim forms. All of the accused range between 29 to 80 years of age.

The Treasurer and Chair of the MSLC, Deborah B. Goldberg said in a press release that by taking all these types of necessary actions to prevent crimes, we are maintaining the integrity of the lottery and the best interests of the people of the Commonwealth. According to the alleged reports by the lottery, three of the defendants were also employees at three different stores including Grab N Go on Washington Avenue in Chelsea, Robinson's News Convenience Store on Eastern Avenue in Malden, and Richland Convenience Store on Nahant Road in Nahant.

The stores facing these charges are Underground Express on Winter Place in Boston, Richdale on Lowell Road in North Reading, and NT Lucky Variety on Arlington Street in Chelsea. Currently, the Massachusetts Lottery is working to suspend the licenses of these stores and remove all lottery equipment from the locations. They may also permanently revoke the licenses after the review process is completed.

Over the past three years, a collaboration between the Massachusetts Lottery and law enforcement has resulted in the federal indictments of six other offenders related to a high frequency of money laundering in lottery tickets.

So better beware of falling into scams, rather put your efforts to the right way using the lottery tools and mark a fair lottery win!