By Marielis Acevedo
Aug 31, 2023, 10:18 AM EDT
Serial lottery scratch-off thief Ryan Anderson in California committed more than 100 robberies at licensed lottery-scratch-off establishments.
Authorities reported that Anderson, 32, was the mastermind in the robbery scheme.
According to a statement from the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office, Anderson, in collusion with other cronies, identified stores that sold Scratch-Off tickets such as convenience and grocery stores in Contra Costa, Alameda, Marin, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Solano counties. , and Stanislaus.
In the July 18 statement, the entity announced Anderson’s plea agreement, which will result in a 3-year prison sentence in state prison. The convict must also return the total payment of the stolen goods to the California Lottery. Anderson pleaded guilty to nine criminal charges.
Accepting responsibility, the criminal apologized to the victims and said he set out to earn an honest living so he could pay back what he stole.
In early 2022, investigators from the California State Lottery Commission in coordination with multiple law enforcement agencies and the Contra Nostra District Attorney’s Major Financial Crimes division identified the man as the leader of a group responsible for 71 separate thefts of Scratch-Off tickets valued at $95,565.00, as well as $59,105.00 in prize money stolen from 64 businesses in seven Northern California counties between March 27 and October 25 of that year.
The string of robberies culminated in Anderson’s arrest.
In written statements, the California Lottery indicated that the tens of thousands of dollars Anderson and his cronies stole victimized not only the entity but also retail partners, many of whom are small, independent merchants who rely on the sale of games. lottery to prosper.
Additionally, the criminals deprived lottery players of their chance to win and public school students from benefiting from programs funded in part by the proceeds from these games.
“The California Lottery has assisted in the clarification of this case through staff resources that have dedicated hours to assist in the investigation. These resources, I think we can all agree, would be better serving the people of California in other ways – ways that allow the California Lottery to maximize its ability to raise money for schools, the primary mission under which this organization operates. ”, indicated the entity.
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