Eddie Tipton

He'd been in Des Moines at the time the ticket was purchased. They also looked at Eddie's LinkedIn profile and saw a familiar name. He'd been endorsed by a man named Robert Rhodes. Investigators had heard this name before from Philip Johnston, the man who claimed to represent the winning ticket holder back in 2011. Eddie Tipton was arrested and charged with two felony counts of fraud.

Multistate Lottery Association employees are ineligible to play the lottery. And not only did Eddie Tipton work for the lottery.

Multistate Lottery Association employees are ineligible to play the lottery. And not only did Eddie Tipton work for the lottery.

Even as he prepared for trial, Rob Sand didn't know how exactly Eddie Tipton had rigged the numbers. He offered Eddie Tipton a plea deal if he would tell investigators how he'd pulled it off. But Eddie Tipton refused to talk, and the trial began in July of 2015.

Even as he prepared for trial, Rob Sand didn't know how exactly Eddie Tipton had rigged the numbers. He offered Eddie Tipton a plea deal if he would tell investigators how he'd pulled it off. But Eddie Tipton refused to talk, and the trial began in July of 2015.

Rob Sand argued that the jury didn't need to understand how Eddie had chosen the winning numbers.

Rob Sand argued that the jury didn't need to understand how Eddie had chosen the winning numbers.

They just needed to recognize the incredible coincidence of the head of IT security for the Multi-State Lottery Association picking the winning numbers, with the odds at more than 10 million to one, and that a man who had access to everything involved in picking the numbers just happened to get the right ones. He wrote the code that produced the winning numbers.

They just needed to recognize the incredible coincidence of the head of IT security for the Multi-State Lottery Association picking the winning numbers, with the odds at more than 10 million to one, and that a man who had access to everything involved in picking the numbers just happened to get the right ones. He wrote the code that produced the winning numbers.

He had direct contact with the random number-generating machines. He had to have tampered with the process somehow and tried to get around lottery rules when he wanted to claim the prize.

He had direct contact with the random number-generating machines. He had to have tampered with the process somehow and tried to get around lottery rules when he wanted to claim the prize.

Eddie Tipton was found guilty of both counts of fraud, one for attempting to fraudulently claim a winning lottery ticket, and the other for manipulating lottery equipment in order to ensure his win.

Eddie Tipton was found guilty of both counts of fraud, one for attempting to fraudulently claim a winning lottery ticket, and the other for manipulating lottery equipment in order to ensure his win.

Rob Sand tried again to offer Eddie Tipton a deal, this time a reduced sentence, if he would explain how he'd pulled it off. Again, Eddie refused to tell how he'd done it, or even admit that he'd rigged the system at all. Rob Sand thought it was interesting that even after he'd already been found guilty, Eddie Tipton wouldn't go for a reduced sentence. And then he got a phone call.

Rob Sand tried again to offer Eddie Tipton a deal, this time a reduced sentence, if he would explain how he'd pulled it off. Again, Eddie refused to tell how he'd done it, or even admit that he'd rigged the system at all. Rob Sand thought it was interesting that even after he'd already been found guilty, Eddie Tipton wouldn't go for a reduced sentence. And then he got a phone call.

Eddie Tipton was convicted of two counts of felony fraud in 2015 and sentenced to 10 years in prison. His Multistate Lottery Association co-worker, an old friend, Ed Stephon, says he couldn't believe it. They'd known each other for 30 years. They'd met in a calculus class at the University of Houston and had stayed close. Eddie was in Ed's wedding.

Eddie Tipton was convicted of two counts of felony fraud in 2015 and sentenced to 10 years in prison. His Multistate Lottery Association co-worker, an old friend, Ed Stephon, says he couldn't believe it. They'd known each other for 30 years. They'd met in a calculus class at the University of Houston and had stayed close. Eddie was in Ed's wedding.

And in the early 2000s, when Ed needed to hire someone to run the IT department at the Multi-State Lottery Association, he recommended Eddie for the job. So you're the guy who got him hired? I am. Did anything in him lead you to believe that this was an inside job, that he might be involved?

And in the early 2000s, when Ed needed to hire someone to run the IT department at the Multi-State Lottery Association, he recommended Eddie for the job. So you're the guy who got him hired? I am. Did anything in him lead you to believe that this was an inside job, that he might be involved?

Had you noticed over the years that Eddie seemed to have a lifestyle, things, cars, homes that didn't really match up with the salary that you knew he was making? No.