Joyce Santago won $1 million in a sweepstakes, but now seems unlikely to collect. (Credit: CBS)
CHICAGO (CBS) — Suppose you won $1 million in a lottery or sweepstakes. You’d be set for life, right? Not necessarily.
CBS 2′s Pam Zekman investigates what happened to one winner.
“I thought her ship had finally come in,” said Gail Wilson about her 75-year old cousin Joyce Santago. In 1996, Santago won a $1 million sweepstakes sponsored by the Chicago Sun-Times.
“She couldn’t believe it, she was stunned,” Wilson said.
Wilson did the talking for Santago who has been suffering from Alzhemier’s for several years now. The sweepstakes money helps pay for her 24-hour, live-in care taker, but the money has stopped coming in.
Now she is represented by the Cook County Public Guardian’s office.
“They were supposed to pay her $40,000 a year for 25 years,” said Charles Golbert, Deputy Public Guardian, “adding up to a million dollars. But about half way through the Sun-Times bankruptcy happened and the checks stopped coming last year.”
Santago is still owed another $440,000 of her winnings.
If you win a lottery jackpot your winnings are backed up by treasury bonds, but there are no laws in Illinois requiring insurance or bonding for private sweepstakes.
Because of the Sun-Times bankruptcy, Santago’s public guardian says there’s little chance of her collecting the rest of her winnings.
“She’s in line with about 5,000 other unsecured creditors,” Golbert said.
Santago’s understanding of what happened is very limited — and her caretakers asked us not to interview her about the loss because they’re very concerned it would be too stressful.
“If she knew the money was gone and it wasn’t coming in she would be very upset,” Wilson said.
“We’re withdrawing from her savings every month to make ends meet,” Golbert said. “That will work for maybe a year and half and then were going to have to look seriously at other options.”
He says there needs to be a law to protect people who enter sweepstakes and Wilson agrees.
“I think there definitely has to be some type of law,” Wilson said, “because people have all types of hopes and dreams when they enter these contests and you have to feel that you are being protected.”
Jim McDonough, a spokesman for the Sun-Times, called Santago’s situation a “horribly sad story,” and “very unfortunate.”
But he said after the paper came out of bankruptcy with new owners, it was not responsible for previous obligations and debts.
He stressed that many people, including newspaper employees, lost money because of the bankruptcy.
17 Comments
Yeah, no wonder I stop reading that rag.
S.O.S.
April 6, 2011 at 11:28 pm
Could the same thing happen with a state lottery if the state went bankrupt?
April 7, 2011 at 2:55 am
Well this is why the US has borrowed billions of dollars from countries like China… “how they gonna pay that back?” with all the deficits continuing to exist. Yeah People start losing, job, retirement, investments, equity… can we all say “UP-SIDE-DOWN”
April 7, 2011 at 3:12 am
I think “Bond” is what your seeking… That’s what the state of Illinois is claiming Chicago Sun-Times didn’t have… “A Bond”
I say any organization handling large amounts of revenues should always have extra protection.
April 7, 2011 at 3:18 am
The answer is “no” unless the state lottery ended and there was no more income to that program. This wasn’t a lottery like people know “lottery” it was meant to delude the reader.
April 7, 2011 at 8:21 am
If CBS2, Pam Zekman, and MMX CBS Interactive Inc. were truly interested in producing and investigation; a searching inquiry for ascertaining facts; detailed or careful examination… Then they were going to the wrong source “an elderly woman with alzheimer’s” That is so distasteful and unethical whoever showed interest in entering a woman’s home without her consent an conduct a video recorded segment, discuss her personal business affairs write a short report… What purpose could this have serviced for this woman. Has any of these investigating sources looked into “trust fund” for the elderly with alzhemier’s, or seek replacement funds from Community Leaders and Reporters of private personal matter. Had the “sources” sent out to investigate this elderly woman in return investigated The Chicago Sun-Times and perhaps relayed supporting information to conclude the story. Sounds like a formal complaint should be made with whoever gave permission for these people to go into this woman’s home. The Reporter clearly stated “caretakers asked us not to interview her about the loss because they’re very concerned it would be too stressful. “If she knew the money was gone and it wasn’t coming in she would be very upset,” her cousin Gail Wilson said.” So the People want to know who consented to the interview if this is such a “quiet” affair. Heck anyone would be upset if they knew the money was gone and it wasn’t coming in. Totally Unethical…
April 7, 2011 at 2:58 am
What need to happen is… If the Chicago Sun-Times is/ was not bonded in the state of Illinois how could it had been the major newspaper provider for decades over and set up cash lotto’s this “If you win a lottery jackpot your winnings are backed up by treasury bonds, but there are no laws in Illinois requiring insurance or bonding for private sweepstakes.” Sounds like a loop hole lie and the so interested investigators the “naysayers’” should be looking into how a newspaper company can legally, advertise, alleg and award prizes and winners if no bond is made how can anyone promise someone that kind of money pay-out $40,000 annually and have no bond. Ludicrous… Look into that investigators’.
April 7, 2011 at 3:08 am
Tiffanie
Hooked on Phonics.
April 7, 2011 at 8:20 am
Chu… You have been excused.
April 7, 2011 at 11:54 am
“Lump Sum” or “Cash Payout” is a preferred option when claiming any lottery, raffle and sweepstakes, rather than differed payments over a long period of time (even if it’s a lesser amount due to lower cash on hand due to lower availability of funds and tax penalties.
April 7, 2011 at 7:24 am
I think the new owners of the Sun Times should continue to pay her the $40,000 per month. It would not only be beneficial to Joyce Santago, but look at the publicity the Sun Times would receive. It’s a win win situation.
April 7, 2011 at 8:17 am
Anybody who thinks that these corporatins aren’t anything but greedy liars in very naive. Their product (Sun Times) is garbage anyway. Woud one single executive dip into his golden parachute and honor their word? Yeah, right.
April 7, 2011 at 8:59 am
I’m sure The Sun Times owners closed down the business filed bankrupcy, and re-opened up with a new ficticious business name with brother, cousin, friend, and new investors…They have the money.
April 7, 2011 at 11:57 am
We don’t need the government to make laws to protect winners of contests. Life happens and you need to deal with it accordinly. Just because you won something doesn’t necessarily mean you are entitled to it. I’m sorry she lost her money, but I would rather the government not be involved in regulating more of our lives. It’s right and fair that she should sue the Sun TImes and if they are bankrupt, then I guess that’s too bad. But if they have the money, then they should pay. Leave government/laws out of it; we have too much government already.
April 7, 2011 at 2:02 pm
Northside,
It Is the Government that assist in regulating and enforcing the rights of the people and this is why in other states there are such things as “bonds” to protect money. I is the government that is being blamed for the economy which has led to peoples homes, jobs etc… “you Know” and I’m pretty sure the “Life happens and you need to deal with it accordingly. Just because you won something doesn’t necessarily mean you are entitled to it.” Outlook would be generally different had this been you. If someone sets their mind a financial planning to a certain standard and maintain it for a certain period of time people feel entitled to the return of investment along with the ideas that support them; However “Life happens and you need to deal with it” is right and this too pertains to those extending sweepstakes, prizzes, lotto’s whatever it be. During bankruptcy settlement they should have allocated for this outstanding debt. People generally live on good faith, promise notes and credit so at what point in a business venture do you get to aid and abet you responsibilities, debts to your community and to your credibility.
April 7, 2011 at 7:05 pm
This is a human interest situation and I do feel sorry for those who always say we need less government. It seems we are unable to govern ourselves due to greed. My husband had Alzheimer’s Disease and when I tried to explain to friends & neighbor about this horrible, horrible disease, they too said “get over it.” Well, after he passed, some of the same ones who said “get over it” came down with the disease. Funny, now the government will have to pay for the care of this victim of Alz. Disease. So you see, the government is involved whether we like it or not. We should not be so quick to judge others.
April 7, 2011 at 7:52 pm
Pingback: How to Win Lottery » Blog Archive » Texoma Man Facing Trial | Uwinlottery.com