DA: Former Melrose Store Clerk Scammed Disabled Customer Of Lottery Winnings

MELROSE (CBS) – A former Melrose store owner has been indicted, charged with allegedly scamming a disabled customer out of her lottery winnings.

Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan said on Wednesday that Chang Cho, 57, of Winchester, was indicted on a charge of larceny over $250 from a person with a disability.

In November police said that a disabled woman came in to R&D Deli with a winning scratch ticket worth $10,000.

Investigators said Cho spoke to his wife in a language other than English, and his wife took $1,000 from her pocketbook and gave it to the customer. Cho then took $60 of the winnings back from the woman and said it was for tax purposes, police said.

The woman's family brought the discrepancy to the attention of lottery officials. The Massachusetts Lottery Commission determined that Cho did not scan the winning ticket.

"It is horrific to hear about situations such as this," said Ryan.  "Not only did the suspect allegedly take away the victim's money, he also tried to take away her dignity. We look forward to prosecuting this case to the fullest extent possible."

Cho closed R&D Deli permanently in the aftermath of the November incident. Another business has since opened under new ownership.