James Casey and Frank Basile are facing fraud charges after authorities say they collected state benefits despite winning large sums in the lottery, the Boston Globe reported.
Auditors told the newspaper that Casey, who has won more than $700,000 in the lottery since 2009 has collected $12,157 in state healthcare benefits and and more than $1,500 in food stamps.
Basile, authorities told the newspaper, has cashed in on state healthcare benefits despite winning more than $300,000 in lottery tickets over the past four years.
He told the newspaper he is a professional gambler who is eligible for benefits because of the money he loses every year.
“They look at how much you make in a year, but I lost as much,” he told the newspaper. “You win $100,000 and you lose $125,000.”
The benefits-grabbing lottery winners aren’t the first to get in trouble with the state — and public — over their benefits.
In Michigan, Amanda Clayton was arraigned for collecting state benefits after winning $700,000 from the lottery there.
“I kind of do (need the money),” she told local tv station WDIV-TV, after a reporter confronted her. “I mean I have no income and I have bills to pay. I have two houses"
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