Lottery Winner Sentenced For Stealing From Brother's Construction Company In Brockton

Lottery winner sentenced for stealing from brother's company
BROCKTON, Mass. (AP) — A southeastern Massachusetts woman who won a $1 million lottery prize must pay over $100,000 after admitting she stole from her brother's business while he battled cancer.

The Enterprise reports 55-year-old Maria Pereira pleaded guilty Friday in Brockton Superior Court to larceny over $250 as part of a plea deal to have 15 other charges dropped.

Thirty-eight-year-old Manuel Buginga said he discovered in 2012 his sister was embezzling money from his Brockton construction business. Prosecutors said Pereira increased the amount she had been stealing after she found out he had cancer and after collecting $455,000 cash for her lottery win. She was accused of stealing $1.6 million from Buginga's company beginning in 2009.

Pereira was sentenced to 5 years' probation and ordered to pay $103,757 restitution.

Buginga said he has recovered and rebuilt his company.