Store owner who stole winnings stripped of lottery license

Thursday, June 30, 2005 | 9:10 a.m.

LAWRENCE, Mass. -- A North Andover convenience store owner who admitted stealing a customer's winning lottery ticket has been stripped of his license to sell Massachusetts Lottery tickets, a lottery spokeswoman said.

Prosecutors said Patrick Simboli, 45, told customer Elizabeth Gelarderes, of Raymond, N.H., that she'd won $2 on a "Cash Winfall" ticket purchased at his store on May 9. In fact, the ticket was worth $32,480, after taxes.

Police said Simboli kept the ticket and claimed the prize.

Gelarderes reported the incident to police after she realized she'd played the winning numbers.

Simboli, who maintains addresses in Beverly and North Andover, pleaded guilty in Lawrence District Court on Tuesday to a charge of larceny. He was ordered to perform 100 hours of community service and write a letter of apology to Gelarderes, a North Andover High School teacher's aide.

Judge Thomas Brennan also sentenced him to one year of probation.