You last visited September 8, 2008, 12:03 am
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Pair arrested for stealing lottery tickets for 3 years
Pair arrested for stealing lottery tickets for 3 yearsPosted: 2/8/2008 8:56:13 AM  Claimed $187,000 in winnings from stolen scratch-offs A clerk at Local Yokel food mart has been arrested for stealing Florida Lottery scratch-off tickets and raking in $187,000 in winnings. Michelle Joan Despain, 35, of Daphne, Ala., is accused of stealing books of tickets and claiming them in Escambia County and in Orlando during a family vacation, according to the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office. The tickets she stole would have sold for more than $243,000. Despain's husband, 33-year-old Raymond S. Despain, has also been arrested. The couple scratched off tickets at home and then redeemed the winning ones at Circle K stores, a Sheriff's Office news release stated. Investigators say the scheme has been going on for at least three years. They're looking for more stolen money because Michelle Despain had worked at Local Yokel since Sept. 2000. The Despains were being held in the Santa Rosa County Jail on $50,000 bond each. Michelle Despain is charged with grand theft over $100,000, organized dealing in stolen property and scheming to defraud. Raymond Despain is charged with conspiracy to commit grand theft, organized dealing in stolen property, scheming to defraud and filing a false Lottery claim.  
Source: Daily News
New Jersey United States Member #18150 June 28, 2005 10701 Posts Offline |
| Posted: February 8, 2008, 10:49 am - IP Logged |
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They don't Look Like Happy Winners!
The tickets she stole would have sold for more than $243,000.
$187,000 in winnings.
Net: Minus $56,000!
Unless you hit the Jackpot: It's a losing proposition.  A mind once stretched by a new idea never returns to its original dimensions!
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Maryland United States Member #10659 January 14, 2005 2587 Posts Offline |
| Posted: February 8, 2008, 11:02 am - IP Logged |
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They don't Look Like Happy Winners!
The tickets she stole would have sold for more than $243,000.
$187,000 in winnings.
Net: Minus $56,000!
Unless you hit the Jackpot: It's a losing proposition. In stealing the tickets, if they hadn't gotten caught, they would have profitted $187,000.00.
But how in the world could these people sleep? What nerve!! Family vacation on stolen money!!
These people must be career thieves. feeling, PRICELESS!!!
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Nashville, Tn United States Member #39102 May 3, 2006 232 Posts Offline |
| Posted: February 8, 2008, 11:26 am - IP Logged |
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They don't Look Like Happy Winners!
The tickets she stole would have sold for more than $243,000.
$187,000 in winnings.
Net: Minus $56,000!
Unless you hit the Jackpot: It's a losing proposition. lmao i was thinking the same thing when i was reading it  waiting patiently for my jackpot
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New Jersey United States Member #18150 June 28, 2005 10701 Posts Offline |
| Posted: February 8, 2008, 11:28 am - IP Logged |
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In stealing the tickets, if they hadn't gotten caught, they would have profitted $187,000.00.
But how in the world could these people sleep? What nerve!! Family vacation on stolen money!!
These people must be career thieves. When you're talking that kind of money: How can you not get caught?
Beretta: Don't do the crime, if you can't do the time! A mind once stretched by a new idea never returns to its original dimensions!
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Burbank CA United States Member #56201 October 16, 2007 152 Posts Offline |
| Posted: February 8, 2008, 12:26 pm - IP Logged |
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Hmmm, sounds like they stole a huge chunk of tickets, wonder how this changed the actual game odds for all the honest players on those games. EXMECHANIC "My dollar buys hope, what does yours do?"
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Northern California United States Member #20270 August 9, 2005 117 Posts Offline |
| Posted: February 8, 2008, 12:30 pm - IP Logged |
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The Yokel store(s) must have terrible controls on inventory....243,000 is a lot of books of tickets.
Also - FL had near 50% payouts until several years ago. Even at their current level of payout I find it hard to believe 243k worth of tickets produced over 180k in winnings...that would be about 75%.
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mid-Ohio United States Member #9 March 24, 2001 8979 Posts Online |
| Posted: February 8, 2008, 1:17 pm - IP Logged |
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"Also - FL had near 50% payouts until several years ago. Even at their current level of payout I find it hard to believe 243k worth of tickets produced over 180k in winnings...that would be about 75%."
You wouldn't expect Florida Lottery to say that $243,000 worth of scratch-offs only paid back a few dollars, would you? After all, this story may be about a couple of crooks but it also tells the honest players the kinds of paybacks they can expect if they buy a scratch-off. I'm surprised they didn't accused them of cashing them it for $500,000. What happens most is most likely to happen again
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NY United States Member #24178 October 16, 2005 1327 Posts Offline |
| Posted: February 8, 2008, 3:23 pm - IP Logged |
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Hmmm, sounds like they stole a huge chunk of tickets, wonder how this changed the actual game odds for all the honest players on those games. It changed the odds for other players exactly the same as if the store had sold the tickets instead of having them stolen.
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Charlotte NC United States Member #17704 June 18, 2005 3239 Posts Offline |
| Posted: February 8, 2008, 3:39 pm - IP Logged |
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 What I don't understand is what makes people think they can get away with stealing lottery tickets. Do they think they are smart or everybody else is stupid.
https://takeemtothebank.com
'We must deliberately be aware of our choices.
All issues of justice & social responsibilities flow from who we are.
We are being formed even as we form; there is constant interaction.
We are taken by what we take. What we believe in we become.' - Charles Kollar
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