NEW BRUNSWICK — A 36-year-old Edison convenience store employee has been charged with stealing a $1 million lottery ticket from a customer last year.
Rayhan Sorwar, an Edison resident, was charged on Jan. 26 with one count of theft of moveable property over $75,000 in the second degree, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and one count of attempted money laundering, both in the first degree, according to information provided by Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey.
During the investigation, it was determined that on Sept. 6, 2017, a customer presented a winning scratch-off lottery ticket to Sorwar, who was a convenience store employee at a store in Edison.
Instead of presenting the customer with a claim form for her $1 million prize, Sorwar allegedly took the ticket, and gave her two other tickets stating that the two tickets were her winnings, Carey said.
When Sorwar’s wife tried to cash the winning ticket at the Lottery Commission in Lawrenceville, Mercer County, on Sept. 19, 2017, officials reportedly became suspicious, and an investigation ensued, which resulted in Sorwar’s charges, according to Carey.
Sorwar was charged during a joint investigation by Special Investigator Joseph M. Oleszkiewicz of the State of New Jersey, Department of Treasury — Division of State Lottery and Detective Ryan Tighe of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office.
The rightful owner of the lottery ticket has been paid her winnings, according to the statement.
“[The Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Officer] consistently investigates and prosecutes theft, corruption and money laundering cases,” Carey said. “We will continue to work with our partners to target such behavior and seek restitution for our victims.”
Sorwar was processed and released pending his court appearance in Middlesex County Superior Court on Feb. 15.
The investigation is active and continuing. Anyone with information should call Oleszkiewicz at 609-826-7468 or Tighe at 732-745-3300.