BALTIMORE CITY MAN CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTING TO STEAL FROM THE MARYLAND STATE LOTTERY AGENCY

Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr. announced today the filing of criminal charges against John Gilbert, 19, for presenting an altered Maryland State Lottery ticket for payment and attempted theft over $500. The charges, which were filed in the District Court of Maryland on July 1, 2004, allege that the defendant presented an altered lottery ticket on January 12, 2004 in an attempt to receive $175,000 from the State lottery.

The case was investigated by the Maryland State Lottery Agency, the Maryland State Police and the Office of the Attorney General. It will be prosecuted by the Criminal Investigations Division of the Attorney General’s Office.

Although an indictment is just an allegation and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty, the maximum penalty for presenting an altered lottery ticket for payment is 3 years imprisonment and a $2,500 fine while the penalty for attempted theft over $500 is 15 years imprisonment and a $25,000 fine.

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