A U.S. Postal Service worker in Florida has been arrested after allegedly stealing a winning lottery ticket from the mail and cashing it herself.
The Florida Lottery announced on Friday, July 31, that a joint investigation involving its Division of Security and the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General led to the arrest of letter carrier Lakaysha Lockhart.
Authorities accused Lockhart of stealing a lottery ticket worth $2,600 and fraudulently claiming the prize at the Florida Lottery’s Miami District Office.
The investigation began after the person who purchased the ticket took it to a Publix grocery store and confirmed it was a winner.
According to an arrest affidavit, the unidentified buyer then mailed the ticket to a relative in South Florida to help that family member pay funeral expenses.
However, the ticket never reached its intended recipient. The buyer eventually contacted the Florida Lottery and reported that the winning ticket had not been delivered by the Postal Service.
Investigators allege that Lockhart redeemed the ticket at the Miami District Office on June 19. Under Florida rules, lottery prizes exceeding $599 must be claimed at an official lottery office.
Lockhart was arrested July 23 in connection with the alleged theft.
Following her arrest, Lockhart reportedly admitted that she took the winning ticket and redeemed it herself, according to the Florida Lottery’s statement.
“Our players deserve confidence that every Lottery prize is protected through strong security measures and diligent oversight,” Florida Lottery Secretary Reginald D. Dixon said.
Dixon praised the Lottery’s security investigators and thanked the Postal Service’s inspector general and the Broward County Sheriff’s Office for helping investigate the case.
“I commend our Division of Security for their outstanding investigative work and thank our partners at the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General and the Broward County Sheriff’s Office for their collaboration in protecting the integrity of Florida Lottery games and bringing this case to a successful resolution,” he said.
Lockhart has been charged with grand theft, dealing in stolen property, filing a false claim for payment, mail theft and two counts of unlawful use of a two-way communications device.
Because the alleged crimes took place in multiple judicial circuits, prosecutors will handle the cases separately, the Florida Lottery said.
The U.S. Postal Service has been contacted for comment.
Simply amazing. For a $2600 payout, Lakaysha has ruined her career and will (maybe) wind up in prison for the theft. What an absolute idiot.