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Key lottery leader out amid jackpot-fixing case

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A prominent lottery official was quietly removed from his 28-year post leading the Multi-State Lottery Association after the jackpot-fixing investigation involving his organization widened.

A public record obtained by The Associated Press shows the group's executive director, Charles Strutt, was placed on administrative leave indefinitely in October.

The move by the association's board came days after Iowa prosecutors said their investigation of jackpot-fixing by the group's former security director, Eddie Tipton, had expanded nationwide.

Investigators say evidence so far suggests Tipton was the only lottery official involved.

Strutt is credited with overseeing Powerball since its 1992 inception, developing other multi-state games such as Hot Lotto, and expanding the association to 37 states and territories.

Strutt and Idaho Lottery director Jeff Anderson, chairman of the association's board, declined comment.