From Riches to Repayment: Iowa Lottery Winners' Unexpected Turn

It's not out of the ordinary for us to report stories about the Iowa Lottery.

What is a bit strange is instead of sharing accounts of people winning money from the lottery, this time we're diving into a case of a few people who have to pay money TO the lottery.

Kind of confusing, right?

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Evansdale Woman at the Center of Iowa Lottery Fraud Case

In November of 2022, Sandra Jean Crow claimed a big lottery prize at the Iowa Lottery’s regional office in Cedar Rapids.

She told lottery officials that she had a winning Candy Cane Crossword scratch ticket. Crow left the office with an extra $30,000 in her pocket, according to reports.

According to a report, in mid December Evansdale police were called to the home of Crow and her roommate, Alvin Hans Larsen III.

Upon arrival at the scene, officials witnessed an argument between the two where Larsen claimed that HE actually purchased the winning ticket.

He was worried that officials might take out a portion of his winnings to pay off his debts to the city. Larsen apparently owed $919 to the city of Evansdale.

Flash Forward A Year Later...

Now, the duo will have to pay back the $30,000.

According to reports, this verdict determined that both Larsen and Crow are responsible for the reparations.

Larsen pleaded to misdemeanor lottery fraud. In addition, this case will be wiped from his record once he completes probation.

Crow on the other hand has been convicted of misdemeanor lottery fraud and has been fined $500 in addition to these reparations.

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