I try to understand this case. also, to read the article the Op linked. in this case, it is clear on the site, Iris Amador Argueta has pleaded guilty before a judge to capitalist theft in the second degree. instead, Argueta is expected to be sentenced to 16-48 months in prison. also, returning almost more than half of the money that should have been obtained by the victim. So, this case has been resolved even though it didn't return completely.
She also lost much more by accepting the lump sum. She did not care how much it would be in installments because she wanted to close the deal ASAP and run with the money which costed the real winner at least a 100 thousand more.
These criminals are so dumb. Things like that don't go away. Sooner or later the cousin would see that they bought a new house or something and start being suspicious or someone would tell her that there was a big win and she said she won something at that time. You never steal from people close to you not only because it's savage but also because you're going to be seeing these people for many years and looking at them knowing you stole from them.
Just a clear example that greed doesn't choose the victim, whether it is your closed cousin in this case.
You can never really trust money even to close relatives or families, how much more with friends or just colleagues?
A big lesson here, if you want to remain your privacy, you can still claim the winnings but don't disclose your identity to the public.
Or post anything in public or social media. Lottery operators won't disclose the identity of their winners if they don't want to.
I am betting on the idea that Argueta will use the remaining money after her prison months are over, who knows where she stashed it?