The first person to be tried in the “Big Spin” sting of the California Lottery has been found guilty of forgery. William C. Payne, 26, of San Pablo allegedly mailed a forged scratch-off

ticket to the lottery on Dec. 20. The ticket, if real, would have been worth $100 and a chance at a Big Spin grand prize drawing. Payne and several others accused of independently doing the

same thing were invited to the Cal Expo grounds in Sacramento on March 26 for a fake Big Spin and were arrested by lottery agents. Payne was also convicted by a Sacramento County Municipal

Court jury of presenting a fraudulent claim to the state. He faces a possible jail term of up to two years and a fine of $2,000. MORE TO READ