Ohio Woman Admits Lying in Lotto Case

[Buffler]

Ohio Woman Admits Lying in Lotto Case

CLEVELAND (AP) - A woman said through tears Thursday that she lied about losing the winning ticket for a $162 million lottery prize awarded to another woman.

Elecia Battle, 40, of Cleveland, is dropping her lawsuit to block payment of the Mega Millions jackpot to the certified winner, said her lawyer Sheldon Starke.

``I wanted to win,'' Battle said. ``The numbers were so overwhelming. I did buy a ticket and I lost. I wanted to win so bad for my kids and my family. I apologize.''

Battle had filed a police report saying she lost the ticket, possibly when she dropped her purse outside a convenience store. The lottery declared Rebecca Jemison, 34, of suburban South Euclid, the winner on Tuesday.

Full article:
http://cnn.netscape.cnn.com/ns/news/story.jsp?floc=FF-APO-PLS&idq=/ff/story/0001/20040108/122291933.htm

I hope she is prosectued for filing a false police report.

[gator_in_Ontario]

1. Did she think

the owner of the real ticket wouldn't show up??? Doesn't seem like a well thought-out plan to me...

[trumad]

2. The real women showed up

with another ticket purchased at the same exact time and a previous ticket with the same damn numbers. LOL

[slackmaster]

3. What a surprise!

A person with a history of financial crime told a lie.

Who woulda thunk it?

[JasonDeter]

4. Please, this woman is pathetic enough without wasting money procecuting!

What a sad sack story and a testament to the greed that pervades this country. I would hope the woman who won the lotter would throw her a few thousand just out of pity.

[freestatevet]

7. And reward

her lying? I sure hope not.

[slackmaster]

14. Lock her sorry ass up and throw away the key

She's a thief and a liar.

[Afraid of My Shadow]

25. Literally?

You really think the woman should get life without parole for this pathetic little stunt? Tell me you're kidding.

[slackmaster]

30. Pardon my hyperbole

She should get the same sentence as anyone else who tries to steal tens of millions of dollars of someone else's money, with consideration for the fact that she has a prior conviction for fraud.

I think 5 - 10 years would be appropriate.

[atldem]

5. The funny thing is

it doesn't matter if she really had lost the ticket. It is payable to the holder of the ticket.
Imagine going to the police and reporting that you lost a 100 dollar bill!

[DrWeird]

6. prosecuted?

Seems like she is clearly remorseful. I can think of better cases to tie the legal system up with.

[NicoleM]

8. She tied up the legal system

by filing a false claim.

[BiggJawn]

9. Well,Kenny-Boy Lay is "remorseful", too....

And Waksall, and Martha, and Dick, and Chimpy...Catch them red-handed and I Gah-Ron-TEE they'd all be properly contrite and remorseful.

No, at the least she should be prosecuted for false reporting.

[meegbear]

10. Better check this out first ...

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/doc_o_day/doc_o_day.html

[outinforce]

11. What's Wrong With A Little Compassion?

Clearly, Elecia Battle has made some decisions in her life that turned out to be wrong.

But who amongst us has made decisions that have always been the correct ones?

And, it seems to me, it is just as clear that Ms. Battle is in a financially bad situation.

What I really am having a difficult time understanding is the eagerness of some who have posted to this thread to punish her for what she has done. It just seems to me that to take a person who is, as a result of some poor decisions in her life, in an almost desperate financial situation, and who does something to try to help herself and her children, and punish them for a minor infraction is mean-spiritied and cold-hearted.

I agree with the person who posted the comment that it would be really cool if the person who actually won the lottery could find the compassion and humility in her own heart to share some of her un-earned wealth with Ms. Battle.

And I am also having a really difficult time with the suggestion that was made that somehow Ms. Battle is like Ken Lay and the corporate execs of Enron.

[NicoleM]

12. She tried to steal somebody else's money.

I don't think she should be locked up but I don't feel sorry for her, either.

[outinforce]

18. I DO Feel Sorry for Her

I understand how you feel, I think.

But at the same time, I do feel sorry for Ms. Battle. I would guess that she is feeling pretty silly and remorseful right now. ANd I bet she is feeling terribly alone.

I bet that late-night comedians will have a field day at Ms. Battle's expense, forgetting that she is an actual human being with feelings that can be hurt.

She is to be pitied, in my estimation.

At the same time, though, I do not condone what she did.

It just seems to me that it is quite possible to say that what she did was wrong, while at the same time feeling truly sorry for her, and wishing the best for her.

[NicoleM]

21. I doubt she feels silly.

She's got quite a record. It would be one thing if this were her first offense, but it's not.

You're a better person than I am (I mean that sincerely, not being sarcastic). I have a limited sympathy supply and I try to save it for people who I feel really deserve it.

[outinforce]

23. Thanks for Your Comment -- Here's a Suggestion

"You're a better person than I am (I mean that sincerely, not being sarcastic). I have a limited sympathy supply and I try to save it for people who I feel really deserve it."

First, thanks for your comment.

But I would venture to guess, NicoleM, that I an really not a "better person" than you. I fact, even though I really don't know you, I would bet that there are areas of my own life which would make you think that I am truly an awful, horrible person.

And, in fact, I could almost guarantee that I am most likely a person who would not "deserve" some of your sympathy.

What has helped me, though, to become the "better person" you seem to think that Iam is to dispense my own pity and sympathy in the same manner as I would want others to dispense theirs to me.

And that means not reserving my pity, sympathy, or compassion to those that I think "deserve" it -- as though I can really judge who measures up enough to be worthy of my compassion and sympathy. No, rather, I dispense my compassion and sympathy precisely to those who do not deserve it -- because I find that they are the people who need it the most.

And you know what? Doing that makes people think that I am a better person.

Imagine that.

[NicoleM]

26. Good for you.

Like I said, you're a better person. I'm okay with that.

[Pithlet]

13. I wouldn't categorize her with Ken Lay

But, what she did was wrong. The rightful owner would have possibly been cheated out of some or all of her rightful winnings if Ms. Battle had been successful. That isn't right. I know that financial difficulties can make people desperate, and drive them to do bad things, which is why I don't feel like calling for her head. I do feel sympathy for her. But, I couldn't fault the winner for not feeling like sharing with a person who tried to steal a life-changing amount of money.

[OneTwentyoNine]

17. actually no....

It wouldn't have mattered if even the rightful owner lost the ticket. It is a bearer instrument,whoever holds that small piece of paper is the winner even if they didn't by the ticket. It matters not to the Lottery,police who claims they made the purchase.

Best thing to do when you buy a ticket is sign the back with your name,address and SS number. If you lose the ticket at least you do have proof that you bought it and once held it. That may or may not matter in the end though...its up to whoever finds it. They might be nice and split it or tell you to buzz off,its their call.

David

[Pithlet]

19. I think you misunderstood

I was talking about the woman who tried to perpetrate the fraud. She DID try to steal the money fraudulently. She most likely wouldn't have won for the very reasons you stated, which I understand completely. But in even attempting it, she was wrong, and I understand why people think she should be punished for it. That was my point.

This case is exactly why they have to be bearers instruments, otherwise prize money would always be forever locked up in litigation, and no one would ever be able to claim their prize, especially large multi-million dollar sums.

Unless you didn't mean to reply directly to me?

[cade]

15. drama queens and compassion don't mix

this isn't her first scheme to con money that didn't belong to her and if it is rewarded by pity, it won't be her last. If unpunished a person who plays shit like that will continue to do so. Making jesus cry for you to gain a sympathy feel.
The lady is a true bottom feeder.
If the other person didn't have a receipt you can bet your ass this sad soul would continue to press her lawsuit. But she was shot down in flames in a very final way on this issue. I just hope she learned something, but at her age shakedown tactics and deceit are likely a way of life that cannot be changed.

[outinforce]

20. "Bottom Feeder"?

Gee, I sincerely hope, cade, that if I am ever in trouble with the law, that you are not a part of the jury that judges me.

You seem to have things all worked out.

For you, "drama queens" and "bottom feeders" just are not worthy of any of your compassion.

What would you say to her today, if you had the opportunity to do so?

Here's what I might say:

"I want you to know, Ms. Battle, that I feel deeply sorry for you. You may not want -- or even feel that you need -- my pity, but I want to offer you my help and my friendship. I think you and I both agree, Ms. Battle, that what you did was wrong. But I think I understand why you did it. I understand the helplessness that you may be feeling, and the desperation that drove you to do what you did. Perhaps we could discuss other ways of dealing with your life situation?"

[cade]

28. she wasn't an honest or even remotely decent person

check it out
snip-

According to court records and TSG sources, Battle's rap sheet dates back at least a decade and includes busts for aggravated menacing, assault, criminal trespass, and credit card fraud. The latter conviction, according to this Richmond Heights Police Department report, stemmed from a 1998 swindle Battle orchestrated at a suburban Cleveland business where she worked. She was nabbed for using the credit card number of a customer to make several purchases of groceries and pharmaceuticals at the store, a Finast Supermarket.

snip-

In addition to her criminal court actions, Battle also has some familiarity with the civil side of the legal system. She was the plaintiff in two negligence lawsuits, one of which involved allegations that her daughter ingested a tainted milk shake at a Cleveland area McDonald's. The other lawsuit centered on an injury claim against the local gas company.

snip-
more here
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/elecialotto1.html
and here




the lady has made a life decision to be a criminal.
A decision to be a criminal.
Not a genetic disorder, not an inherited disease.
A decision to lie.
No one forced her to lie, no one held a gun to her head during the filing of a false police report.
No one made her break the law.
No one made her tell the paper such a heart wrenching story of bad luck.

The lady was going to try to rob the winner. To steal the money. To fraudulently obtain some or all the money. That is theft, and many people have no sympathy for that.

To fuck up someone else's dream and someone else's chance at a better life just because she didn't win. Out of the millions that played she lost and couldn't come to grips with the fact if you lose you get no reward. So she lied in hopes of getting the reward that wasn't hers. That indicates she wasn't a poor unfortunate who had been screwed by bad luck ( again ). But a true user of other people and the legal system.


She says she is not a bad person - really she's not. Although she lied and attempted to fraudulently obtain money that she had no right to. Money she had not earned. Money she had not won nor was it owed to her for being in a bad situation.
Money for a ticket that was not ( nor had ever been ) in her possession. Despite her claims to the contrary.
If she had the chance to screw anyone for money she would, actions speak louder than words.
Additionally, I never claimed to be friendly, sympathetic, compassionate or likable.

[REP]

16. I've Never Decided to Commit a Crime

Ms Battle has once again decided to commit a crime. That was a criminally bad decision, with criminal repercussions.

[BiggJawn]

24. Oh, Puh-LEEEEZE!

"But who amongst us has made decisions that have always been the correct ones?"

Yes, you're right, and let me ask this:

Where were the people calling for "compassion" when I fucked up and got my ASS HANDED TO ME???????

I'm not "eager" to punish her. Geez, seems cut and dried to me. She called the cops and told them a whopper when she repoerted her "lost ticket". that's called False Reporting, and it's a crime in most parts of the country.

Do financial "Bad Situations" justify bad behavior? No, they don't. That why I got my ass in a sling every time I tried to ignore or scam my way out of a bind.

Take my advice, put "Collections" on that list of careers you're ill-suited for.

[outinforce]

27. Oh, Tha-Ank You

"Where were the people calling for "compassion" when I fucked up and got my ASS HANDED TO ME???????"

I'm not sure where I was when you fucked up and got your ass handed to you, but I'll tell you this. If I had known about your situation, and had the opportunity to do so, I sure would have made an effort to show you some compassion, and not condemnation.

I don't know you at all, so I can't say this with any certainty, but it may be the case that you would have preferred, at the time you fucked up and had your ass handed to you, to have had at least one person who tried to listen to and understand you without telling you what a bad person you were or condemning you because you had made a bad choice.

I become more and more convinced that the world would be a little bit better place if we all showed a bit more compassion -- especially to those who need it, rather than to those we think deserve it.

And thanks for your advice on career options. I think I will stay away from collections -- but I will not condemn those who make that choice for themselves, either.

[SmokingLoon]

22. PRISON, and lots of it for this dummy.

I hate criminals

[TeeYiYi]

29. She's a con artist and a scammer . . .

. . . anyone who feels sorry for her might feel differently if they were on the other end of one of her grifts.

TYY : can't stand liars :