JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. — A former Teton County resident won his own personal lottery earlier this month when the Unclaimed Property Division of the Wyoming State Treasurer’s Office was able to locate the man’s new address and phone number.
While the check issued totaled only $14.10, securities valued at more than $6.72 million were transferred to the man’s stock broker.
“This was a huge find for our staff,” State Treasurer Curt Meier said. “When you consider that our Unclaimed Property Division just paid out a record $7.4 million over the past fiscal year, this truly is an unusual claim.”
When securities are turned over to Wyoming’s Unclaimed Property Division, they are typically held for three full fiscal years. If the owner doesn’t make a claim by that time, the securities are sold and the proceeds from that sale are held in the owner’s name. The securities involved with this claim were scheduled to be sold in 2022.
Meier said the state is still holding more than $93 million in unclaimed money, plus approximately $3 million worth of securities. All of these properties are held until the rightful owner or heir makes a claim. Meier encourages residents and former residents to check the Treasurer’s website to see if they are owed a share of these properties.
“My staff actively searched for this particular individual,” Meier said. “The team continues to seek others owed large properties, but the quickest and easiest thing to do is go online and do your own search. Most who are owed large amounts have no idea that the State has money for them.”
Property is turned over to the state when a business, agency or governmental entity owes property, typically money or securities, to someone and for whatever reason cannot locate the owner for a specified time period.
