Photo courtesy of Radio Iowa
One of the key players in an intriguing Iowa story that encompasses fraud, greed, Bigfoot sightings and even hot dogs will be providing an inside look into the nation’s largest case of lottery fraud tonight (Wednesday) in Coon Rapids. Former CEO of the Iowa Lottery and co-author of the book, “The $80 Billion Gamble,” Terry Rich will be joined by journalist and co-author, Perry Beeman, at the Coon Rapids Public Library at 6:30 p.m. tonight. Rich says attendees will not be disappointed.
Rich says in December of 2010 the Hot Lotto estimated jackpot was $16.5 million. An employee of a subcontractor, Edward (Eddie) Raymond Tipton, had devised a scheme to collect on this, and other prizes.
Rich was approached by his public relations and security staff, who said something about this particular instance doesn’t ring true. He then worked with local legislators to ensure that this got the attention it deserved before the lottery paid out.
Since his retirement, Rich has been traveling the country, telling the story to banks, civic organizations and others about the need for checks and balances.
Tipton was sentenced to 10 years on two counts of fraud in September of 2015 and in June of 2017, he confessed to installing the rigged random number generator and was subsequently sentenced to 25 years in prison. He is currently serving his time in the Clarinda Correctional Facility. This Iowa turned international story has been broadcast on the American Greed television series and in a documentary on The Gameshow Network as well as in the New York Times Magazine. The public is invited to hear it directly from Rich tonight at the Coon Rapids Library.
