Texas lottery cases go to prosecutors

AUSTIN (AP) - At least six cases in which alleged Texas Lottery winnings were not properly paid have been referred to prosecutors since 2008.

Records obtained by the San Antonio Express-News indicate Willis Willis of Grand Prairie, who prosecutors say lost a million-dollar jackpot to a fugitive store clerk, was not the only victim.

The Lottery Commission referred at least five other cases to prosecutors after players complained of not getting their rightful winnings. Two were in Pflugerville, two were in Harris County and one was in Brookshire.

Defendants entered no-contest pleas in three cases. Prosecutors dropped one each in Houston and Pflugerville.

Lottery Commission spokesman Bobby Heith says in a Pflugerville case a clerk was fired. The licenses for four stores were canceled.

The commission revoked the licenses of two retailers in failure-to-pay cases.