DELAND, Fla. – A Walmart convenience store cashier in DeLand was arrested after investigators said she hid a receipt connected to a winning Florida Lottery ticket belonging to an elderly customer.
The Volusia Sheriff’s Office said 40-year-old Tameka Hall faces a felony grand theft charge following the incident at the Walmart convenience store along South Woodland Boulevard.
According to investigators, the victim visited the store Sunday morning to claim winnings totaling $2,700 from a Florida Lottery ticket. Deputies said Hall, who was working as a cashier, provided the customer with instructions on how to claim the money.
Hours later, the man realized he never received the required receipt needed to redeem the prize and returned to the store to report the issue to management.
Detectives said the store manager reviewed surveillance video, which allegedly showed Hall folding the receipt and placing it into the left pocket of her uniform vest before leaving work for the day.
Deputies met with Hall Monday morning inside Walmart’s security office. According to investigators, Hall told deputies she became distracted by another customer after speaking with the victim and placed the receipt in her pocket intending to give it to a manager, but never did.
Authorities said deputies later accompanied Hall to her vehicle, where they recovered the winning lottery receipt before placing her under arrest.
Lottery expert Oscar Acosta, founder of LottoExpert.net, said players should immediately protect winning tickets by signing the back, taking photos and keeping all receipts associated with the claim.
“You need to protect that ticket,” Acosta said. “You don’t want to lose track of that ticket.”
Acosta also said lottery winners should be cautious when claiming prizes, especially as lottery participation continues to grow.
“There is a level of trust,” Acosta said. “It requires a receipt and you can mail it in or if it’s a major prize, you are probably better off going in person.”
Walmart declined to comment on the incident but confirmed Hall is no longer employed by the company.