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MySanAntonio.com:

AUSTIN - A judge Tuesday granted Willis Willis, the cheated lottery winner, a sizable chunk of the million-dollar jackpot that a fugitive store clerk is accused of stealing by claiming his winning ticket.

Most of the $395,018 awarded had been recovered from U.S. bank accounts, but $30,000 of it was returned by two people who are possibly relatives of Pankaj Joshi, the clerk, Travis County Assistant District Attorney Patricia H. Robertson said.

The two had been given the money by Joshi, returned it when asked and don't face any charges, she said.

The jackpot was worth $750,006 after taxes.

State District Judge Bob Perkins ordered the seized funds released to Willis, who pronounced himself "elated."

"I'm just glad I'm at this point, and hopefully everything will be over very soon," said Willis, who said he will use part of the money to pay for his daughter's college tuition.

Joshi has been indicted in Travis County on a second-degree felony charge of fraudulently claiming the jackpot and is considered a fugitive.

He's believed to have returned to his native Nepal, where additional funds thought to be from the lottery winnings have been frozen.

Willis' lawyer, Sean Breen, said the frozen funds total about $307,000. Robertson said it was between $290,000 and $307,000 and said the district attorney's office is working with the U.S. State Department to get the money released to Willis as well.

Austin Attorney Sean Breen in MySanAntonio.com article

Willis' lawyers contend the Lottery Commission is responsible for making up any difference between what the courts return to him and the jackpot's value, since it allowed Joshi to claim the ticket.

Willis bought the winning Mega Millions ticket May 29 in Grand Prairie, asked a clerk to check it May 31 and was told he'd won $2, according to the Austin Police Department.

The store clerk, identified as Joshi, later claimed the jackpot. After Joshi's co-workers phoned in their suspicions about the matter, the Lottery Commission looked into it and referred it to Travis County prosecutors.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/state/Cheated_lottery_winner_gets_part_of_his_money.html

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