Clerks Charged With Scamming Lottery Winner Out of $74K

This article was written by Lisa Finn

According to Southampton Town Police, on March 18 at 7:30 pm, a male subject brought in several scratch-off lotto tickets and one Take 5 Quick Pick lotto ticket to the Valero Gas & Convenience Store in Riverside. 

The two store clerks allegedly cashed the 28-year-old construction worker's scratch-offs for a few dollars but when they scanned his Take 5 Quick Pick lotto ticket and saw the winning amount of $74,892, they allegedly conspired against the man, police said. 

Instead of alerting him to his rightful winnings the clerks allegedly gave him $774, congratulated him on his winnings, and sent him on his way, despite several requests to give him a receipt, police said.

Afterward, one of the clerks gave the winning ticket to his brother, Orhan Ozurk, who cashed it in to Lotto for them so they could split the winnings, police said. 

The victim realized something was amiss when he learned that only Lotto is authorized  to pay out winnings above $600 and that the store he bought his ticket in was boasting a $74,000 winner. 

The victim returned to the store and confronted the clerks without success. 

Southampton Town police detectives investigated the reported theft and worked in conjunction with the New York State Lotto Commission, the owner of the Valero Gas Station, and the Suffolk County District Attorney Economic Crimes Bureau on the case.

Yalcin Nergiz, 41, of Riverhead, Yunis Ozturk, 33, of Riverhead, and Orhan Ozurk, 47, of Riverhead were arrested and charged with one count each of grand larceny in the second degree, a felony and conspiracy in the fourth degree, a felony. 

The three men were arrested on Friday, held overnight and arraigned at Southampton Justice Court Saturday morning.