Niagara Falls man admits he stole $7 million group lottery winnings
Posted July 27, 2016 6:01 am.
Last Updated July 27, 2016 6:04 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A Niagara Falls man has pleaded guilty to stealing his group lottery win, a ticket worth $7 million.
Frank Galella, 67, admitted he asked two family members to claim the winning Lotto 649 ticket as their own.
The $7,036,047 draw occurred on July 31, 2013. Galella was the group leader. In an agreed statement of facts read in court on Tuesday, he said he sent family to accept the ticket instead.
Galella was found guilty of theft of over $5,000 and counselling to commit (false pretences).
He will be sentenced on Sept. 8.
The Niagara Falls Review reports that all the members of his group lottery have been paid by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming commission. Galella’s share is being held in trust.
