Houston woman accused of stealing nearly $1M lottery prize from cousin
NASSAU COUNTY, N.Y. – A Houston woman is accused of stealing nearly $1 million in lottery prize money from her cousin, cashing in the scratch-off ticket for him but giving him false paperwork while keeping the bulk of the winnings, authorities said.
Iris Amador Argueta, 32, was arrested Monday and charged with grand larceny in the second degree and two counts of criminal of a forged instrument in the second degree by the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office, WNBC reported. She was arraigned Tuesday in New York, the television station reported.
According to prosecutors, Argueta’s cousin, who has not been named, won $1 million after buying a $5 “Hold ‘Em Poker” ticket at a convenience store in Glen Cove, New York last year, WNBC reported.
The winner, who wanted to remain anonymous, asked Argueta to claim the winnings and promised her $50,000, KTRK reported. Argueta drove from her home in Herndon, Virginia, to New York to collect the winning ticket and mailed it to the New York State Gaming Commission on Nov. 13, 2020, according to the television station.
Several weeks later, Argueta returned to her cousin’s home with allegedly forged paperwork from the New York Lottery, WNBC reported. The paperwork showed the victim had only won $20,000, and Argueta gave her cousin $13,436 and said the state took the remainder in cash, according to KTRK.
However, the district attorney’s office said lottery officials issued a news release on Dec. 9, 2020, saying Argueta had claimed the prize and took a lump-sum payment after taxes of $537,440.
After the victim heard about the news release and contacted his cousin, Argueta denied having the cash, WNBC reported. Argueta surrendered to police after an investigation, according to KTRK.
Police have recovered $317,825.46 in stolen funds from Argueta’s bank account, the television station reported.
If found guilty of the charges, Argueta could face up to 15 years in prison.
