A Massachusetts man was finally able to claim his $3 million lottery prize on Friday, more than six months after the winning lottery ticket was stolen from him by two convenience store employees who were caught arguing openly over how to dispose of the loot in the lottery lobby. divided headquarters, authorities say.
Diesel mechanic Paul Little went to the Lakeville Market & Liquors on January 17 and bought two Mega Millions Quick Picks and two Mass Cash tickets, adding a multiplier to boost his winning potential, as well as a bag of barbecue potato chips.
Carly Nunes, 23, printed out the tickets and then called the rest of Little’s order, but he left behind the tickets he had bought. He assumed they were lost, according to the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office.
Authorities say that Nunes and one of her colleagues then devised a plan to steal the lottery ticket and when the lottery ticket turned out to be a winner, the pair went to lottery headquarters to try and claim the money, after which their plan quickly unraveled became.
At a press conference on Friday, where he finally received his $3 million, Little expressed his desire to pay off his mortgage and donate money to charity.
Paul Little entered the Lakeville store on Jan. 17 and bought two Mega Millions Quick Picks and two Mass Cash tickets, as well as a bag of barbecue potato chips. He also added a multiplier to increase his winning potential
On that January day, Carly Nunes finally accidentally gave the tickets to the next customer to buy lotto vouchers, 45 minutes after Little. That person returned them after discovering that he had been given two extras.
Officials claim that Nunes took the tickets and said they must have belonged to “him,” meaning Little.
That night the numbers were drawn and Nunes was in possession of a multi-million dollar lottery ticket.
Joseph Reddem, 32, Nunes’ associate, drove Nunes and her boyfriend to the lottery’s local lottery headquarters in Dorchester two days later, according to MassLive.
Lotto office clerks noted that the ticket was both torn and had burn marks.
While on security footage at Massachusetts State Lottery headquarters, they were ready to celebrate their winnings when Nunes and Reddem began to argue.
Officials learned that Reddem was demanding a larger share of the profits after Nunes said she would only give him $200,000.
After overhearing the argument, they decided to detain Nunes for further questioning about the ticket due to its poor condition.
Nines claimed that the burn marks on the ticket came from placing it on a pipe and that she accidentally tore it when she took it out of her purse.
Disgruntled, officials told her “she would receive the jackpot prize upon completion” of a state lottery investigation.
Carly Nunes (pictured right), 23, printed out the tickets and then called in the rest of Little’s order, but Little left the tickets he bought
Suspected Carly Nunes at trial after arrest on lottery theft charges
Lotto office clerks noted that the ticket was both torn and had burn marks
State Lottery and State Police officials went back and watched security footage from the convenience store to show Little buying the winning lottery ticket.
Nunes eventually admitted to officials that she did not buy the ticket, only admitting that she took it by accident.
She then went on the run for two weeks before finally being caught by state police. Nunes pleaded not guilty to all charges related to the incident on Tuesday.
Nunes is being held on $10,000 bail on charges of theft from a building and attempted robbery, along with filing a false claim and witness intimidation.
Reddem pleaded not guilty to one attempted racketeering charge, the district attorney’s office said.
He was allowed to go free, but not allowed to gamble or contact Nunes or any other witnesses in the case. His next court date is scheduled for July 28.
Little finally accepted his rightful $3 million prize Friday morning in Dorchester at that same state lottery headquarters. To identify Little, lottery officials in Massachusetts started a flyer campaign in the area around the store.
Prior to being contacted by authorities, he never knew he had left a million dollar ticket at the store, believing he had lost the ticket and only found out he was a millionaire while being questioned as part of the investigation .
Joseph Reddem, 32, Nunes’ associate, drove Nunes and her boyfriend to the lottery’s local lottery headquarters in Dorchester two days later
Little finally accepted his rightful $3 million prize Friday morning in Dorchester at that same state lottery headquarters
“I have to say, I’m pretty excited today because it really is today with check in hand,” he told CBS Boston.
“It’s really made me appreciate what the Mass Lottery does to make sure the rightful people get the prize,” Little said. “I can’t say enough for all the people who helped me get to this point.”
Little – a diesel mechanic who will keep his job – plans to pay off his mortgage and fix up his house, donating money to charity.