THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, November 22, 1994 TAG: 9411220626
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B11 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Short : 29 lines
The man who authorities say rigged Virginia Lottery tickets to receive as much as $10,000 in bogus winnings has been arrested by Norfolk police.
Richard A. James, 46, was arrested on Nov. 19 at 5:53 p.m. at his residence in the 7400 block of Fenner St. after police received a Crime Line tip.
Police think James has committed more than 100 forgeries of lottery tickets since July. He has been charged with seven in Norfolk and is wanted in connection with other forgeries in Virginia Beach, Hampton, Newport News, Danville, South Boston, Lynchburg and Richmond.
The scam involved changing the validation codes of losing $2 tickets to winning tickets worth $25 in the Bingo scratch lottery game. James is suspected of collecting $7,500 to $10,000 in phony winnings.
He is being held without bond and was to have appeared in Norfolk General District Court on Monday, said Larry Hill, spokesman for the Norfolk Police Department.
KEYWORDS: VIRGINIA LOTTERY FRAUD FORGERY by CNB