Gambling pal pleads guilty to scam
‘You never know what money will do to people’ member of jackpot-winning group says
A member of a gambling group says he’ll never get his “moment of elation” after a fellow player tried to dupe the team out of a $7-million lotto win, leading to a police investigation and prolonged uncertainty over the jackpot’s rightful recipients.
“It deprived me of a once-in-a-lifetime situation where he could’ve come in and said, “Fellas, guess what: We won!’ ” said Sebastien Hoch, one of 11 winners of a Lotto 6/49 ticket from three years ago.
“I’m 89. My chances of winning anything again are as much as a snowball in hell,” Hoch said. “That would’ve been a very, very precious moment in my life.”
In a St. Catharines courthouse Tuesday, Frank Galella, 67, pleaded guilty to theft over $5,000 and counselling to commit the crime of false pretenses in connection with his attempt to keep the jackpot in the family by claiming his daughter had won rather than splitting it among his fellow ticket holders.
Galella’s daughter Joanna Galella, 35, is charged with fraud over $5,000 and counselling to commit the crime of false pretenses. Her case is still before the courts.
Despite the betrayal, Hoch characterized Galella as kind and “personable — who happened to make the “mistake of his life.”
“He was a friend . . . I got to like him very much,” said Hoch, a retired electrician and motel owner in Niagara Falls, where Galella also lives.
“I liked golf; he liked golf. I thought he was very personable.
“I guess first appearances are deceiving,” he added. “You never know what money will do to people.”
For years, Hoch met with Galella and the retirees that comprised the group twice a week at a Tim Hortons near downtown Niagara Falls.
In July 2013, Galella was acting as “team captain,” purchasing the group tickets — typically Lotto 6/49 on Wednesdays and Saturdays and Lotto Max on Fridays — when they struck gaming gold.
“He gave us a cock and bull story when he came into the coffee shop . . . and said Joanna had bought the winning ticket,” Hoch recalled.
“When he said that, my stomach started to churn.”
Hoch said several group members, including Galella’s “best friend” of 35
“I’m 89. My chances of winning anything again are as much as a snowball in hell.” SEBASTIEN HOCH LOTTO WINNER
years, grew suspicious and called the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. (OLG).
An investigation by an Ontario Provincial Police bureau attached to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario resulted in the arrest of Galella and his daughter in October 2013.
“This whole area round here knows what went on,” said fellow ticket holder Ralph Davies.
It took about 15 months after the ticket was bought in late July 2013 at a Niagara Falls convenience store for the group to cash in on their winnings.
“He’s no longer friends with anybody. It’s sad, because he’s ruined his own life,” said Hoch.
“Oh yeah, and he was going to give us each $1,000. That was his token of appreciation.”
Frank Galella could not be reached for comment Thursday. He told the Star Wednesday he was “not feeling all right” and “can’t make it up” to his friends. Joanna Galella could not be reached for comment yesterday.
Joanna’s cousin, Eva Derrick, 34, said the two co-accused are tightknit and endured a “very unfortunate circumstance.”
Frank’s wife — Joanna’s mother — died from multiple sclerosis in 2012, Derrick said.
“They’ve had hard times since the beginning, so they’ve always been really close.”
When he wasn’t putting in hours as a supervisor for the City of Niagara’s water department, Galella was building his family a wheelchair-accessible house from scratch. “He wouldn’t have it any other way than have her at home,” said Derrick.
“He’s always been one of those guys that would give you the shirt off his back, even if you didn’t ask for it — not just for his family, but for his friends.” Not everyone sees it that way. “It’s still kind of a sensitive matter,” said Victor Rienzo, another one of the group winners.
Hoch called it “unfortunate” and “mind-boggling ” that Galella thought he could “get away with it.
“I feel more sad for the guy than malice.”
Since he and nine other winners collected their jackpot — $640,000 each — in October 2013, Hoch has bequeathed the bulk of it to his two sons and his grandchildren.
“I decided to help them out now, not when I kick the bucket,” he said.
Frank Galella is the only one who hasn’t cashed in on his good fortune, which OLG has said he’s likely still entitled to.
“The guy made a mistake in his life. And I’ve made a few,” said Hoch. “Well unfortunately his was a big mistake, and he got caught.”