Store Clerk, Fiance Accused Of Trying To Scam California Lottery
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — The Los Angeles County District Attorney's office has announced the arrest of a couple -- a convenience store clerk and her fiance -- for trying to scam the California Lottery.
Deputy District Attorney William Ryder said 24-year-old Kamrun Nahar Nipa and 28-year-old Miggel Hewage Wijesena are charged with conspiracy to commit grand theft, attempted grand theft of personal property, perjury by declaration and presentation of a fraudulent claim.
Both are scheduled to be arraigned in Department 100 of the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Van Nuys Branch.
Authorities said an undercover investigator with the California Lottery presented Nipa with a $20,000 decoy winning lottery ticket back in April. She was working as a register clerk at a gas station mini mart in the 16000 block of Sherman Way in Van Nuys.
Officials say Nipa told the undercover agent that the ticket was a loser and held on to it. The next day Nipa and Wijesena presented the ticket at a lottery office claiming it as their own, Ryder added.
If convicted on all counts the defendants face a maximum possible sentence of three years and eight months in county jail.
