An Illinois woman will lose out on the proceeds of a $50,000 lottery ticket after a state appeals court ruled the government should keep the money because the ticket was purchased with drug money. The Fourth District Appeals Court ruling overturns a Macon County judge who previously awarded the winnings to Tykisha Lofton.
Police found the lottery ticket while raiding a Decatur home where Lofton lived with her boyfriend, Terrance Norwood. Norwood was sentenced in October 2015 for drug dealing, drug possession and armed violence offenses. Lofton was present during the raid but had told police she wasn't aware Norwood sold drugs.
Police say Lofton didn't dispute that Norwood had purchased the ticket, although she scratched it off. Court documents say Lofton later said she had bought the ticket.
