Austin — Attorneys for a 67-year-old man who claims he won a $1 million jackpot say the Texas Lottery still considers the winner to be the store clerk who was indicted for bilking their client of his prize money.
Willis Willis' lawyer Sean E. Breen says commission attorneys told the Grand Prairie man Monday they consider the clerk who was indicted for allegedly fraudulently claiming Willis' prize to be the winner.
Breen said the commission's general counsel, Kim Kiplin, and two other lawyers refused to answer any of their questions.
Commission spokesman Bobby Heith declined to comment.
Authorities believe Pankaj Joshi, now indicted on a charge of claiming a lottery prize by fraud, fled to Nepal after about $750,000 was transferred to him.
About half of the money has been recovered from U.S. banks. Prosecutor Patricia Robertson has said that money is being held and some will be returned to the victim.
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