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TRENTON
- Attorney General Anne Milgram and Criminal
Justice Director Gregory A. Paw announced
that an Elizabeth man was indicted today
for allegedly attempting to collect $7,000
from the New Jersey Lottery Commission with
a scratch-off ticket he knew had been altered.
According
to Director Paw, Ishak Y. Boutros, 31, of
Elizabeth, was indicted by a state grand
jury on charges of third-degree attempted
theft by deception and fourth-degree forgery.
The charges resulted from a joint investigation
by the New Jersey Lottery Commission and
the Division of Criminal Justice - Major
Crimes Bureau.
On
Dec. 4, 2007, Boutros submitted a claim
form seeking reimbursement from the Lottery
Commission for a Magnificent 7 scratch-off
ticket. He claimed he bought the ticket
at the gas station and store where he worked
on Spring Street in Elizabeth and scratched
off the Tic Tac Toe game to find three 7’s
in a row, a combination worth $7,000. However,
each time he tried to scan and cash the
ticket, the lottery terminal indicated the
ticket was invalid.
The
investigation revealed that the ticket was
not a winner, but had been altered to make
it appear that there were three 7’s
in a row. It was determined that Boutros
made repeated attempts to scan the ticket
at the store where he worked on Dec. 3 and
4, and also had it scanned several times
unsuccessfully at a deli in his neighborhood
on Dec. 4.
The
Lottery Commission investigated the case
jointly with Detective John Neggia of the
Division of Criminal Justice - Major Crimes
Bureau. Deputy Attorney General Valerie
Noto presented the case to the grand jury.
Third-degree
crimes carry a maximum sentence of five
years in state prison and a fine of $15,000,
while fourth-degree crimes carry a maximum
sentence of 18 months in state prison and
a $10,000 fine. The indictment is merely
an accusation and the defendant is presumed
innocent until proven guilty.
The
indictment was handed up in Superior Court
in Mercer County, where Boutros will be
ordered to appear at a later date to answer
the charges.
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View
Indictment |
