$1 Million Lotto Winner Pleads Guilty To Stealing From Elderly Customers
LOWELL (CBS) - A Wilmington man who won $1 million on a scratch ticket in 2009 has admitted to scamming elderly customers out of thousands of dollars.
Michael Santaniello pleaded guilty to several larceny charges this week, including four counts of larceny from a person over 60 years of age.
Santaniello ran a Chelmsford oil service and repair company, Mike's Oil Heat Service.
He's accused of charging customers for services he never performed.
Prosecutors say Santaniello would tell the victims they needed new boilers and oil tanks, take their money, and disappear.
He faces at least 18 months behind bars.
Santaniello gets about $35,000 a year after taxes through 2029 from his lottery win. Prosecutors also noted in court that he won an additional $24,000 from the state lottery between 2009 and 2011.
