Stealing Lottery Tickets Is a Really Bad Idea. Here’s the Latest Case of Lotto Loot Gone Bad
Posted on: March 19, 2026, 09:36h.
Last updated on: March 19, 2026, 09:36h.
- A Maryland man is facing felony charges for allegedly stealing lottery tickets
- The Maryland Lottery assisted police in apprehending the suspect
- The man reportedly stole over $10,000 in scratch-offs
Stealing lottery tickets is among the dumbest ideas a criminal can devise. The scratch-offs are easily traceable, and when thieves attempt to redeem winning plays, the tickets trigger a warning for retailers not to pay out or give law enforcement a bounty of evidence to track down.
The latest incident involving stolen lottery tickets leading to an arrest comes in Maryland. The Charles County Sheriff’s Office reports that officers were called to a Sunoco gas station in Waldorf on Feb. 26 after store workers reported a theft.
The employees said a Black male wearing a ski mask and gloves entered the Crain Highway business, who asked to purchase a pack of Black & Mild cigars. When the clerk turned around to retrieve the tobacco product, the suspect allegedly reached over the counter and grabbed a block of Maryland Lottery scratch-off tickets and fled.
The value of the stolen lottery plays was valued at more than $4,000. Police were later called to the Food Inn convenience store in Waldorf on Mattawoman Drive for a similar theft. Lottery officials estimated the loot there to be valued at over $6,000.
Lottery Tracking Leads to Arrest
The Maryland Lottery was able to assist law enforcement in detailing the serial numbers of the stolen lottery tickets. The lottery did not void the plays in hopes of police being able to apprehend the suspect.
The Lottery’s bet paid off, as a person of interest later redeemed winning scratchers from the stolen lotto loot. Lottery officials told law enforcement that several tickets were redeemed at convenience stores in Prince George’s County, and the tickets were collected as evidence.
Fingerprints from the redeemed scratchers identified Timothy Lewis Jr., 25, of Upper Marlboro, as the suspect. Surveillance video from the thefts captured the suspect fleeing in a white Toyota RAV4, a vehicle that was later found in Lewis’ possession.
Lewis was arrested and charged with two felony counts of theft between $1,500 and $25,000. He was released after posting a $2,000 unsecured bond. He’s due in Charles County District Court on April 28.
Jamaican Man Sentenced for Lottery Fraud
Also in Maryland, a federal judge this month sentenced a Jamaican national to 42 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud. Nickoy Campbell, 30, was facing 20 years in prison.
Federal prosecutors said Campbell and three conspirators solicited elderly victims and led them to believe that they had won a major lottery prize. More than 10 victims paid the fraudsters more than $3 million to receive their supposed financial windfalls.
Campbell personally received over $500,000 in ill-gotten profits for his role in the scheme. His conspirators, Jamaican national Tavoy Farquharson, 34, and Landover Hills, MD, residents Wayne Henry, 36, and Dwayne Henry, 34, have also admitted their guilt and are awaiting sentencing.
As a reminder, no legitimate lottery asks winners to pay upfront taxes or fees to collect their winnings.
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