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.
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%.
"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 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.
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.
I think some people are so desperate for money that they think their "plans" of ripping of the lottery will work out. It seems in most cases it doesn't work.
I can't say if it's really true because no charges were filed, but a former neighbor of mine (not a personal friend) was fired from a local 7-11 for stealing lottery tickets. She denied it. She was never reported for the crime, so that's why I sort of believed her. Plus, why would anyone admit to being fired from a convenient store for stealing? However, I think sometimes employees look at the tickets as some kind of perk or benefit. I'm not saying it's right (of course it isn't!) but there must be millions of people who take pens and paper from their offices all the time or make long distance calls, etc. One thing she admitted to was eating a hot dog once in a while instead of throwing it into the trash, which I guess they have to do after they've been on sale for a certain time. The management called it stealing and she said "but it was trash." What's really stupid on her part is that they have video surveillance cameras all over the store. Again, I never said she was a personal friend! LOL
Quote: Originally posted by justxploring on Feb 8, 2008
I can't say if it's really true because no charges were filed, but a former neighbor of mine (not a personal friend) was fired from a local 7-11 for stealing lottery tickets. She denied it. She was never reported for the crime, so that's why I sort of believed her. Plus, why would anyone admit to being fired from a convenient store for stealing? However, I think sometimes employees look at the tickets as some kind of perk or benefit. I'm not saying it's right (of course it isn't!) but there must be millions of people who take pens and paper from their offices all the time or make long distance calls, etc. One thing she admitted to was eating a hot dog once in a while instead of throwing it into the trash, which I guess they have to do after they've been on sale for a certain time. The management called it stealing and she said "but it was trash." What's really stupid on her part is that they have video surveillance cameras all over the store. Again, I never said she was a personal friend! LOL
We had a girl was stealing tickets at our store. How the owner found out who it was? Another store owner called to find out where the winning tickets were registered. Why? Because the girl never bought any there, only cashed in the tickets. So he found out that they were registered at our store, then called our owner and describe the women. Our owner went down to the store and picked up the cashed in tickets and watched the videos. It was a shame that these girls did this to a boss who is so nice.
We had a girl was stealing tickets at our store. How the owner found out who it was? Another store owner called to find out where the winning tickets were registered. Why? Because the girl never bought any there, only cashed in the tickets. So he found out that they were registered at our store, then called our owner and describe the women. Our owner went down to the store and picked up the cashed in tickets and watched the videos. It was a shame that these girls did this to a boss who is so nice.
tntea, I never worked in a convenient store, so I'm not sure..but aren't tickets like inventory? I mean, if I were working at a furniture store and a bedroom set was missing, it would be obvious that someone stole it or didn't turn in the invoice and pocketed the money. However, a small lamp or accessory might be easier to hide, but it still gets counted and would be noticed. I realize a ticket is small and easy to pocket, but I assume the store pays for them and has to keep track of the quantity, right? Would this woman have eventually been caught anyway? I'm just wondering how the thieves in this article got away with stealing "books of tickets" for 3 years.
We had a girl was stealing tickets at our store. How the owner found out who it was? Another store owner called to find out where the winning tickets were registered. Why? Because the girl never bought any there, only cashed in the tickets. So he found out that they were registered at our store, then called our owner and describe the women. Our owner went down to the store and picked up the cashed in tickets and watched the videos. It was a shame that these girls did this to a boss who is so nice.
Maybe she should have waited after the closing of her shifts
and scavenged through the trash cans for winning tickets. It's a viable option.
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.
lmao i was thinking the same thing when i was reading it
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!
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.
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%.
"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.
It changed the odds for other players exactly the same as if the store had sold the tickets instead of having them stolen.
I think some people are so desperate for money that they think their "plans" of ripping of the lottery will work out. It seems in most cases it doesn't work.
I can't say if it's really true because no charges were filed, but a former neighbor of mine (not a personal friend) was fired from a local 7-11 for stealing lottery tickets. She denied it. She was never reported for the crime, so that's why I sort of believed her. Plus, why would anyone admit to being fired from a convenient store for stealing? However, I think sometimes employees look at the tickets as some kind of perk or benefit. I'm not saying it's right (of course it isn't!) but there must be millions of people who take pens and paper from their offices all the time or make long distance calls, etc. One thing she admitted to was eating a hot dog once in a while instead of throwing it into the trash, which I guess they have to do after they've been on sale for a certain time. The management called it stealing and she said "but it was trash." What's really stupid on her part is that they have video surveillance cameras all over the store. Again, I never said she was a personal friend! LOL
We had a girl was stealing tickets at our store. How the owner found out who it was? Another store owner called to find out where the winning tickets were registered. Why? Because the girl never bought any there, only cashed in the tickets. So he found out that they were registered at our store, then called our owner and describe the women. Our owner went down to the store and picked up the cashed in tickets and watched the videos. It was a shame that these girls did this to a boss who is so nice.
tntea, I never worked in a convenient store, so I'm not sure..but aren't tickets like inventory? I mean, if I were working at a furniture store and a bedroom set was missing, it would be obvious that someone stole it or didn't turn in the invoice and pocketed the money. However, a small lamp or accessory might be easier to hide, but it still gets counted and would be noticed. I realize a ticket is small and easy to pocket, but I assume the store pays for them and has to keep track of the quantity, right? Would this woman have eventually been caught anyway? I'm just wondering how the thieves in this article got away with stealing "books of tickets" for 3 years.
Maybe she should have waited after the closing of her shifts
and scavenged through the trash cans for winning tickets. It's a viable option.