We know it’s the topic generating all the buzz, and we know everyone (including us) wants answers, so we held a news conference today to give the latest updates about the on-going claim process for that jackpot-winning Hot Lotto ticket presented just before it would have expired in late December.
Here’s the latest:
• The winning ticket has been validated, but the prize-claim process as a whole continues.
• Lottery Security reviewed the ticket at the time it was presented on Dec. 29 and confirmed that it is the valid jackpot-winning ticket that someone bought in Des Moines back in December 2010.
• The jackpot winner has 60 days to decide whether to claim the prize as cash or annuity. But, if that decision isn’t made by 4 p.m. Feb. 27, the prize will automatically become an annuity and will be paid out in 25 equal installments.
• Only one person signed the back of the winning ticket: Crawford Shaw as the trustee for Hexam Investments Trust.
• Hexam Investments Trust owns the ticket. But the members of the trust haven’t been identified yet and we don’t know what information we will learn about them. Crawford Shaw has stated that he is the trustee, but is not a prize winner.
• We’re continuing to look into the reports we’ve received from people who each allege that the jackpot-winning ticket was stolen from them. This case serves as an important reminder to sign your lottery tickets so they are identified as belonging to you. Here’s our suggestion for a new catch phrase: Buy the ticket, sign the ticket!
• Crawford Shaw has been quoted in the media as saying he’d provide further details this week here in Iowa, but as of today, we don’t have a specific meeting time set with him. He has said he will come to Iowa soon.
• The prize hasn’t been paid yet, but we do anticipate we will be able to pay it once the determination has been made that the ticket was legally purchased, legally possessed and legally presented.
• We’ve never had a situation like this in our lottery’s 26-year history, so we don’t know how long it’s going to take to resolve it. We’re just as curious as everyone else to learn the details so the prize can be paid!
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January 12, 2012
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As the lottery’s vice president of external relations, I’m a member of the senior management team at the Iowa Lottery, where I’ve worked since 1999. I’ve spent my years at the lottery learning as much as I can about all the ins and outs of the lottery industry. I’ll put that knowledge to work here so I can share the behind-the-scenes details with you!
Treasure trove law: if one is to find a winning lottery ticket, they are not automaticaly the owner of it, they have an obligation to find the rightful owner. If this person were to find it blowing in a parking lot yes they would become the owner of it so as long as the original owner doesn't come forward and prove that its theirs.
Law of possesion: your possesions are legally yours forever unless you intentionaly abondend or gave them away. which then the treasure trove law backs this up.
Posted by: lucas hernandez | January 17, 2012 at 05:53 PM
Just wondering if shaw was a no show? Its gonna be pretty hard to bring the person on video forward when he nor the group know who it is...
Posted by: lucas hernandez | January 17, 2012 at 03:52 PM
Good morning, Vic. The video of the ticket purchase is being used as part of the security investigation into this ticket purchase and is an important component in that work. For that reason, it is not being released at this time.
Posted by: Mary Neubauer | January 17, 2012 at 11:13 AM
Hi, Connie. If you have a concern about your lottery tickets, please contact the Iowa Lottery Security Division. One of our investigators will be happy to look into the situation. The telephone number is 515-725-7900.
Mary
Posted by: Mary Neubauer | January 17, 2012 at 10:55 AM
Wonder If it was mine ???I had tickets checked at convenience store in Atkins Ia. the cashier quickly responded not a winner.. Then smooth faked dropping it in trash can ?? I now know to get tickets back and the slip that prints out saying not a winner :/ We All Learn The Hard way :::((( Why not show the person that purchased it on surveillance cameras??Or state weather it was a male or female who purchased it That would put my mind at ease ??/ I've said along I could have been the one with the original ticket holder ?
Posted by: connie Bosier chandler | January 16, 2012 at 11:21 PM