HOUSTON—An elderly Houston man has been charged with defrauding another elderly person from California in a lottery prize-winning scam, according to Houston police.
Police said Robert W. Cornell, 81, called an elderly woman on September 29, 2011 and identified himself as Michael Anderson, an official with the lottery.
Cornell said the victim had won the lottery, but had to pay taxes before she could receive her prize.
The victim sent Cornell two checks—one for $5,000 and another for $3,400 – as instructed. Cornell cashed the checks at a Wells Fargo in the 9800 block of S. Gessner, but still was not satisfied.
Cornell continued to call the woman and asked for more money.
The victim, after never receiving her lottery prize, decided to contact her police department in Sacramento, California.
Investigators discovered the checks were sent to a retirement home in Houston and contacted the Houston Police Department. HPD then discovered Cornell was a resident at the retirement home.
Cornell was charged with felony theft of the elderly. His bond was set at $5,000.
