Two arrested in connection lottery ticket purchases with counterfeit money

MIDDLETOWN – State Police have charged two men who are on parole in connection with the passage of phony $20 bills for lottery tickets.

Sean Boyle, 21, of Walden, was charged with criminal possession of a forged instrument in the first degree, a felony, and Christopher Zaorski, 36, of Goshen, was charged with criminal possession of stolen property in the fifth degree and petit larceny, both misdemeanors.

The arrests were the result of a two-month investigation by State Police at Middletown and State Police Newburgh BCI.

Middletown State Police investigated two incidents in the Village of Unionville where a subject used counterfeit $20 bills to purchase state lottery scratch off tickets. One incident, on March 9, took place at End of the Line Deli and the other, minutes later, at Horler’s Deli.

In both incidents, the man entered the store, requested the tickets and fled after giving the clerk the fake bill. Earlier on the same day, Newburgh State Police investigated a similar incident at The General Store in the Town of Hamptonburgh.

In each instance, the man got into a red, four-door vehicle driven by another suspect.

On June 3, State Police executed search warrants for both men’s homes and both were taken into custody.

Boyle was remanded to the Orange County Jail without bail and Zaorski was issued an appearance ticket.