Peel police officer wins lottery after being charged with fraud

A Peel Regional Police officer facing 46 fraud and breach of trust charges in relation to a large-scale insurance scam won the lottery after he was arrested.

Const. Carlton Watson, 50, who is suspended with pay pending the outcome of his trial, said his dreams came true when he won $275,000 in the March 12, 2012 Daily Keno draw.

A quarter-million dollars richer, Watson told OLG staff he felt “wonderful” as he claimed his prize.

With his criminal trial pending, Watson said at the time he planned to use his windfall towards his children’s education and other financial obligations.

About a year before winning Keno, Watson was arrested following an internal investigation by Peel police.

Watson, 50, a 21-year veteran of the force, faces 46 charges, including multiple counts of fraud, obstructing justice, uttering forged documents and breach of trust, in connection with the nine insurance claims dating back to 2010.

Watson has been suspended with pay since he was arrested in the spring of 2011 following an investigation by the force’s Internal Affairs Bureau.

His defence lawyer, Susan Jane von Achten, said the lottery win came well after her client’s arrest and has nothing to do with the case.

OLG spokesperson Tony Bitonti said essentially, there is nothing stopping someone accused or convicted of criminal wrongdoing of claiming a lottery prize.

“If you are the legitimate owner of that ticket, we’ll pay you that prize,” Bitonti said.

The OLG has a “prize claim review process” for winners only to determine if they are the legitimate owner of the ticket. Staff also checks the winner’s name with the provincial government’s Family Responsibility Office, which collects, distributes and enforces court-ordered child and spousal support, in case there are payments owing, Bitonti said.

If the winner owes money in taxes, that is handled by the Canada Revenue Agency, Bitonti said.

Watson’s trial is ongoing this week in Brampton court.

 

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