The Region - News from April 3, 1987

The trap was baited with 100 free lottery tickets--and the prize was a trip to jail--for 88 unsuspecting suspects who were arrested in a sting operation conducted by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and county marshal’s office in cooperation with Hawthorne police. Those arrested, wanted on charges ranging from burglary to drunk driving, narcotics offenses and probation violation, all received letters saying that a marketing system hired by the California Lottery wanted their opinions on proposed new games. They were promised 100 free lottery tickets to come to the Hawthorne Memorial Center on El Segundo Boulevard. On arrival, however, the “tickets” turned out to be warrants.