Posted on 12/30/2011 6:39:53 PM PST by Orange1998
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Lottery officials had more questions than answers Friday as they tried to unravel the stunning mystery behind a year-old winning ticket turned in less than two hours before Thursday's deadline for a jackpot worth up to $14.3 million.
Among the questions: Who actually bought the Hot Lotto ticket? Who are members of the trust that stepped forward to claim the prize less than two hours before it expired? Where was the ticket for 364 days, and why did the trustee risk sending it by FedEx to Des Moines one day before the deadline?
Here's what they know: Two attorneys with Des Moines-based Davis Brown Law Firm showed up at Iowa Lottery headquarters at 2:10 p.m. Thursday with the winning ticket before the 4 p.m. deadline. They represent Hexam Investments Trust, whose trustee is a lawyer and businessman named Crawford Shaw from the wealthy town of Bedford, N.Y. Shaw signed the ticket, which was validated as the winner, on behalf of the trust.
"It's amazing things were cut that close. What if something had gone wrong? What if there had been a snowstorm? It was down to the wire," said Mary Neubauer, a spokeswoman for the Lottery, which had installed a countdown clock, repeatedly issued public reminders about the ticket and had been making plans to give away Iowa's portion of the unclaimed jackpot. "We just continue to be thrilled that the ticket that came in does ultimately preserve the winner's ability to claim this prize."
But before they pay a dime, Lottery officials say they will conduct a thorough investigation to make sure the ticket was legally purchased, possessed and presented. They were presented with another wrinkle Friday when they received calls from multiple, unrelated people claiming the ticket was stolen from them.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Door hinge.
Wealth and "stuff" comes and goes and will not sustain our eternal souls. However, having a lot of money also enables one to do good while on the earth. If I had a fortune, I'd set up my kids, treat myself and my wife to some of the pleasures it affords, and spend the rest on charitable/Christian causes.
Ah, that’s the ticket. They stole the ticket from me. Here’s my bank account number. Thanks.
“I thought most lotteries stipulate you agree to some level of publicity if you win.”
At least one state lets you be anonymous.
Many states let a trust be the winner. So the Trust’s name is what gets publicized .You could go your whole life without relatives knowing you won the lottery if you keep your mouth shut. I think there is a natural propensity to share the information in the excitement. Then your relatives can take a hit out on you - as has been the case with several lottery winners.
I saw one expert say that you really need two trusts. One to pick it up and then you have that one hand it over to another trust.
Legally, I don't think the state can demand the identity of the beneficiary of the trust.
If Iowa law requires that only an individual can claim a ticket, they might have a supportable position. Otherwise:
For obvious reasons, the state wants to be sure the ticket is valid. I don't think they have (yet) claimed it is invalid.
There is plenty of legal precedent for a trust or partnership claiming a lottery ticket in other states. Any problem is being created by the state of Iowa, and unless they have legislation specifically requiring that an individual must personally claim a ticket, they are opening them up to legal action -- which they will lose.
The State may eventually find out by virtue of the K1 and taxable income that is distributed.
That's true. But, that information is confidential, by law.
The individual will still be able to remain anonymous from deadbeat relatives, and "newfound" friends.
The real reason that lotteries don't want anonymous winners is they want to use the winner's name and picture for promotional purposes. I think the Texas Lottery law specifically says that.
Wealth is not evil. Just the LUST FOR IT.
A simple family trust can be set up for $500.....
Maybe.....but, I can’t remember.
Who you...calling old????
Can't post 24/7...
Ha!!
I should hope so! Somebody has to keep S.S. solvent so greedy old geezers like me can keep on FReepin'.
On a series note, did you once tell me that you were of Huguenot descent? Or am I getting my oranges mixed up? My great (several greats) grand pappy fled France for England soon after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes and thank goodness he did or I'd be speaking French right now. He came to Virginia to a land grant in or around 1690.
The only Frenchy’s in my background...were probably trappers/hunters out of Canada..that married into the Great Lakes Indian tribes...
....my guess is someone “troubled” by deciding which social security number they should use to claim the prize....which one of the bogus ones would give them enough time to go back to their country and change back to their original name....*smiles*
“....[mutter, mutter] take my traveler’s checks to a competing resort...” < / tongue tied >
The real winner, the actual purchaser, was murdered and the ticket stolen. The murderers went back and forth between risking life in prison, and getting $10 million. Filing the lottery ticket at the last minute was a desperate last minute change of mind. There is no mystery here.
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