Brothers Arrested in 5 Million Dollar Lottery Scam

Two Central New York brothers are facing felony charges in Syracuse, accused of scamming a lottery ticket winner out of millions of dollars. The winning ticket was bought six years ago at their family-owned market. But they waited until this year to try to cash the ticket - and lottery officials began an investigation. Onondaga County District Attorney Bill Fitzpatrick

Fitzpatrick says one of the men told the real winner the ticket was worth five-thousand dollars, when it was really worth five million.




The Ashkars were arrested at the car dealerships they work at in Ithaca and East Syracuse Tuesday. 36 year old Nayel Ashkar of Cicero and 34 year old Andy Ashkar of Camillus, have been charged with grand larceny and conspiracy. In addition, Andy Ashkar has been charged with criminal possession of stolen property in the first degree, a felony.  

Both pled not guilty in court Wednesday.