$1M ticket purchased at Otter's Grocery in Cross Plains
Three arrested for scamming Hoosier Lottery
Wanda English Burnett - Editor

A scam that made a million-dollar lottery ticket invalid and left those in Cross Plains wondering who the lucky winner might have been, has been brought to light.

A former lottery official has been charged in the scam and faces up to 50 years in prison. According to information in The Indianapolis Star, William C. Foreman, 59, of Indianapolis, was arrested on Monday, November 8, after he told two men where a million dollar lottery ticket was - at Otter's Grocery in Cross Plains.

Janet Strimple, who owns Otter's Grocery , noted that the store does not get a percentage from any of the scratch off games. She further states, "When you have customers buying lottery tickets everyday, you'd like to see a winner in the community."

Foreman, who was a security officer for the Hoosier Lottery, is alleged to have conspired with Daniel Folts, 31, and Chad Adkins, 28, both of Shelbyville, to win a million dollars from the scratch off "$2,000,000 Bonus Spectacular" game.

Officials from the lottery say Foreman found out where the winning ticket was after he was able to get information from a ticket reconstruction list. He then is alleged to have shared that information with Foltz and Adkins, who went to Cross Plains and bought the whole roll, about $700 worth. Tickets were $20.00 a piece.

When the duo turned in their tickets for the winning prize on September 7, which was $50,000 per year for 20 years - each man would receive half - they were recognized by a lottery official as being friends of Foreman. They denied that Foreman gave them any information about the game, however, the investigation began.
Hoosier Lottery Director Jack Ross says the reconstruction list was a "major security breach." He also noted that Matthew Hollcraft, the Hoosier Lottery investigator who obtained the list in the first place, has resigned. Foreman also resigned in September.

Ross assures lottery ticket buyers that there are no games on the street that have been compromised. Marion County Prosecutor Carl
Brizzi said it was only this one game that was compromised, and all the winning tickets have been accounted for. Besides the one turned in by Foltz and Adkins, there were three still at the lottery's warehouse and one was claimed by a legitimate winner.

Officials from the Hoosier Lottery are cooperating fully with the prosecutor's office and the investigation.

Locals around the Cross Plains area are stunned that a million dollar ticket was at Otter's Grocery in the first place, and then dismayed that someone cheated to get it. It doesn't discourage them from buying lottery tickets, though. In fact, according to one store clerk, it might even boost sales knowing there could be another
big winner in the rolls of tickets that hang from the machine just behind the counter.

Foreman has been charged with theft, a Class C Felony, and Disclosure of Confidential Lottery information, a Class A Felony, that carried up to 50 years in prison. Foltz and Adkins were also arrested on Monday, November 8, and each face preliminary charges of theft.

LINDA CHANDLER PHOTO

Janet Strimple, owner of Otter's Grocery in Cross Plains, stands beside the Hoosier Lottery scratch off tickets that are sold at her store. She says that the next time there is a big winner she hopes that it is someone in the community.