$2.3 Million Stolen For the Lottery

Annie Donnelly, 38 pleaded guilty on Wednesday for stealing more than $2.3 million dollars from Great South Bay Surgical Associates where she was a bookkeeper. Donnelly wasn’t at the gambling tables or betting on horses and sports. She instead became very caught up in scratch-offs and weekly lotteries that can be found in any gas station.

Prosecutors say that Donnelly began her downward spiral in June of 2002 starting with fraudulent checks of $3,000. She stole petty cash, money from coworkers and finally started writing checks to herself and non-existant companies that she used to fund her gambling habit.

She has to repay all the money and could spend up to 12 years in prison if convicted.