Andy Ashkar, N.Y. man, guilty in case of stolen $5 million lottery ticket, conspiracy charge dropped
(CBS/AP) SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Andy Ashkar, one of two brothers accused of conning a man out of his winning $5 million New York scratch-off lottery ticket, has been found guilty.
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A judge on Wednesday found the 35-year-old Ashkar guilty of possession of stolen property. Ashkar and his older brother, Nayel, were cleared of conspiracy charges.
Their non-jury trial ended Friday in Onondaga County Court.
Prosecutors said Andy Ashkar stole the winning ticket from maintenance worker Robert Miles in 2006, then held it for nearly six years before trying to cash it.
Andy Ashkar faces one to three years in prison when he is sentenced May 29.
The Ashkars' father, Nayef, owns the store that sold the ticket and is also charged with conspiracy. He has a separate trial scheduled for September.
According to WTVH, Assistant District Attorney Beth Van Doren says she is "very confident" that the Lottery will award the theft victim, Miles, the $5 million prize.
