Iowa Roommates Ordered to Repay $30K Lottery Fraud Scheme
Two Iowa roommates, Sandy Crow and Alvin Hans Larsen III, have been ordered by a state court judge to jointly repay $30,000 to the Iowa Lottery for a fraudulent claim made on a winning $3 Candy Cane Crossword scratch ticket. Crow, who cashed in the ticket, was found guilty of lottery fraud in a November 2023 trial and fined $500, while Larsen pleaded guilty to the same charge a month earlier.
The scheme began in November 2022 when Crow claimed she was the winner to help Larsen avoid paying money owed to the state. The unraveling of the scheme occurred when police responded to a domestic disturbance at their home, where they overheard the roommates arguing about the money.
Crow initially stated she cashed the ticket but later changed her story, claiming Larsen had given her the ticket as a gift. However, Larsen eventually confessed to the scheme, admitting he was trying to avoid paying a debt of $560.
In court, Crow’s attorney argued that restitution should only cover the $560 debt, as the ticket was a legitimate winner. However, the judge ruled that the fraudulent claim invalidated the win, and the full $30,000 should be returned to the Iowa Lottery.
The judge determined that Crow had no legal right to possess or present the ticket for redemption, therefore she was not entitled to receive the prize. The ruling highlights the consequences of attempting to defraud the lottery and the importance of integrity in claiming prizes.
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