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A6 U.S. NEWS
Wednesday 23 august 2017

Iowa computer programmer gets 25 years for lottery scam

By DAVID PITT for lotteries in 33 states the
Associated Press District of Columbia, Puerto
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Rico and the U.S. Virgin Is-
A former lottery computer lands. Tipton’s voice quiv-
programmer who admit- ered when asked by Judge
ted to rigging computers to Brad McCall to speak dur-
enable him to pick winning ing the sentencing hear-
numbers and cheat four ing. After McCall issued the
states out of $2.2 million in sentence, Tipton was hand-
several lottery games over cuffed and taken away by
six years was sentenced to sheriff’s deputies.
up to 25 years in prison in Under Iowa law, Tipton is
Iowa on Tuesday. likely to serve far less than
“I regret my actions and 25 years — probably be-
I’m sorry for the people I tween three and five years,
hurt,” said Eddie Tipton, said Iowa Assistant Attor-
54, the former information ney General Rob Sand,
technology manager for who prosecuted the case.
the Multi-State Lottery As- The Iowa Board of Parole
sociation, a central Iowa will ultimately determine
organization that provides how long he’s behind
number-picking computers bars.”I think when you’re
Former lottery computer programmer Eddie Tipton, right, is taken into custody after his sentencing
hearing, Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2017, at the Polk County Courthouse in Des Moines, Iowa. Judge Brad
McCall sentenced Tipton to up to 25 years in prison for rigging a computer program to enable him
to pick winning numbers in several lottery games over six years.
(AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

an insider who abuses your ton also admitted to com- four states from which he
position of trust and privi- mitting theft by fraud and rigged games and jack-
lege you should expect to a computer crime in Wis- pots were paid, but he told
see the inside of a jail cell,” consin, where he’ll be sen- McCall it’s unclear how he
Sand said. Tipton’s attorney tenced Sept. 18. The agree- will get the money. He said
asked McCall to give Tipton ment allows him to serve his he hopes to study ministry
probation in Iowa, arguing Wisconsin sentence — likely and get a job in that field
his client was unfairly being to be three to four years — after prison. “Hopefully
treated far more harshly at the same time he serves you’re going to get rid of
than other people involved the Iowa prison sentence. that greed and gain a little
in the scheme. Tipton also agreed to re- common sense during your
As part of his plea deal, Tip- pay the $2.2 million to the prison stay,” McCall said.q

Missouri:

Woman charged with killing teen daughter

By H. HOLLINGSWORTH after the girl moved back ie. She is also charged with
M. STAFFORD from Minnesota, where she tampering with physical
The Associated Press was raised. evidence and abandon-
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) Rebecca Ruud, 39, is ing a corpse, said Ozark
— A Missouri woman was charged with first-degree County Prosecutor John
charged Tuesday with kill- murder and alternative Garrabrant. He declined
ing the autistic teenage counts of abuse of a child to say whether anyone
daughter she gave up for resulting in death, second- else would be charged,
adoption as a baby, weeks degree murder and felo- but Sheriff Darrin Reed said
after the girl’s remains were ny murder in the killing of the investigation is ongo-
found in a burn pit on her re- her 16-year-old biological ing and more charges are
mote property and months daughter, Savannah Leck- expected.q