Former Texas Lottery Chief Reindicted Over $95 Million Jackpot Scandal

Posted on: May 18, 2026, 06:12h. 

Last updated on: May 18, 2026, 08:18h.

Philip Conneller @casinoorgphilc Read More
Expertise: Gaming Business, Regulation, Tribal Gaming.
  • Gary Grief reindicted over $95 million jackpot controversy
  • International syndicate bought nearly every Lotto Texas number combination
  • Prosecutors claim lottery couriers enabled mass ticket-printing operation

A grand jury in Travis County, Texas, has reindicted the former executive director of the Texas Lottery, Gary Grief, on felony abuse of office charges related to a controversial $95 million jackpot win.

Texas Lottery, Gary Grief, Lotto Texas jackpot, lottery courier scandal, $95 million lottery win
An attorney for Gary Grief, above, denies that any crime has been committed in relation to the controversial jackpot, arguing his client is a political scapegoat. (Image: Texas.gov)

According to The Houston Chronicle, Grief was initially indicted in mid-April, but the charges were dropped a day later under unclear circumstances. The fresh indictment, unsealed last week, is identical to the original.

Grief, who led the lottery commission for 15 years, retired in early 2024. That was shortly before the Chronicle broke the story that a syndicate had bought up around 99% of number combinations for the April 22, 2023, draw.

By purchasing roughly 25 million tickets, the group effectively guaranteed itself at least a share of the $95 million jackpot while also capturing millions in secondary prizes.

Mammoth Operation

Critics allege that Grief bypassed the normal legislative process to permit online ticket sales through licensed lottery courier companies, including Lottery.com. The move was intended to boost ticket sales, but prosecutors argue it also created the conditions that enabled the syndicate’s mass-purchasing strategy.

Over roughly 72 hours, several licensed lottery couriers across Texas deployed dozens of terminals and used pre-generated QR codes on phones and tablets to print tickets at speeds nearing 100 per second.

Teams worked around the clock in improvised print locations that included a fishing shop and a former dentist’s office, cataloging and boxing millions of tickets as they rolled off the machines.

Lottery officials assisted the scheme by providing resources without asking questions, according to the indictment. Three of the couriers the Lottery provided with machines and pallets of paper for printing had barely sold any tickets in the preceding months.

‘No Crime’ Committed

The Texas Lottery Commission is also named in the indictment. The commission was dissolved in the wake of the scandal, which sparked an investigation by the State Attorney General’s Office and the Texas Rangers.

Sam Bassett, Grief’s attorney, told the Chronicle that the charges were “political,” adding that his client had not committed a crime.

Gary cooperated with the Texas Ranger investigation but neither he nor his counsel had input with the Grand Jury. The Rangers had their direction from politicians searching for a scapegoat,” Bassett said.

“When all facts are revealed in court, the public will see that Gary’s leadership at the Lottery Commission generated millions of dollars for Texas schools and veterans and there was no crime,” he added.