Store Clerk Facing Extortion Charges in $3M Lottery Fraud Case Goes on Lam

Posted on: May 16, 2024, 07:58h. 

Last updated on: May 17, 2024, 09:01h.

Philip Conneller @casinoorgphilc Read More
Expertise: Gaming Business, Regulation, Tribal Gaming.

A Massachusetts store clerk charged with extortion for his role in the theft of a $3 million lottery ticket is now a fugitive from justice after he failed to show up in court Monday.

Joseph Reddem, Carly Nunes, Massachusetts Lottery
Carly Nunes, left, pleaded guilty to stealing a $3M lottery ticket. Joseph Reddem, right, who allegedly tried to extort money from her, was a no-show in court this week and is currently a fugitive from justice. (Image: WHDH)

A Plymouth County Superior Court judge has issued a warrant for the arrest of Joseph Reddem, of Raynham, Mass. He was allegedly involved in a plot to cash in a stolen lottery ticket and attempted to extort money from his co-conspirator.

Reddem, 33, worked as a clerk at the store formerly known as Savas Liquors in Lakeville, Mass., along with Carly Nunes, 24, who pleaded guilty in February to stealing the ticket.

Oblivious Winner

In January 2023, Nunes was working the checkout when a customer entered to purchase a bag of potato chips and two quick picks for the Mega Millions draw. He grabbed his chips but left his lottery tickets in the tray at the checkout counter.

They were subsequently fished out by Nunes.

The victim later told investigators he briefly searched for his tickets when he got home, couldn’t find them, and gave the matter no more thought. He was oblivious to the fact that he hit the jackpot that night.

Two days later, Nunes, her boyfriend, and Jeddem turned up at the Massachusetts State Lottery HQ in Dorchester to cash the ticket.

Lottery officials were immediately suspicious because the ticket was burned and partially torn. Their suspicions grew when they heard Reddem and Nunes arguing in the lobby. Reddem, who had driven Nunes to Lottery HQ, appeared to be demanding half the jackpot for himself. Nunes said she would only pay him $200K.

A criminal investigation was launched and security video from Savas Liquors showed that Nunes wasn’t the real winner.

Real Winner Found

Nunes was indicted on June 12, 2023, on multiple charges of larceny and fraud, and was arrested on a warrant two weeks later. She ultimately pleaded guilty to one of those charges – presentation of a false claim. She was sentenced to two years’ probation with the requirement that she continue treatment for substance abuse.

After a month of canvassing the area with screen-grab shots of the surveillance video, lottery officials were able to track down the real winner, Paul Little.

He said he wished Nunes the best and would “pray good things come her way.”

Reddem remains at large.