SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) - Two Syracuse-area brothers accused of conning a man out of a $5 million winning lottery ticket will stand trial in April.
Onondaga County Judge Joseph Fahey on Monday set a trial date of April 22 for 34-year-old Andy Ashkar and his 36-year-old brother Nayel. The brothers were arrested last week and charged with attempted grand larceny and possession of stolen property.
They claim Andy Ashkar bought the winning ticket in 2006 but waited almost six years to claim it because they were worried about the effect it would have on their lives.
Lottery officials say Andy Ashkar swindled the real ticket-owner, Robert Miles, by telling him the ticket was only worth $5,000. Lottery officials say Ashkar gave Miles $4,000 and kept $1,000 when Miles cashed the ticket in 2006.
