A 19-year-old Spartanburg man has been charged after investigators say he cashed in scratch-off lottery tickets he never paid for at the Circle K where he worked.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) charged Joseph Antoniyo Waller on Thursday, Oct. 8, according to a news release.
What investigators say happened
According to an arrest warrant, Waller scanned, scratched off and redeemed lottery tickets on Sept. 29 without buying them first. It happened at the Circle K gas station on East Main Street in the Duncan area of Spartanburg County.
Surveillance cameras inside the store recorded the activity, and Circle K managers identified Waller as the employee involved, the warrant says.
Officials have not said how many tickets were involved or how much prize money was paid out.
The South Carolina Education Lottery asked SLED to investigate.
Charges
Waller is charged with:
- Intent to defraud, counterfeit game tickets (a felony)
- Breach of trust with fraudulent intent, $2,000 or less (a misdemeanor)
If convicted of the felony lottery charge, he could face up to five years in prison and a $50,000 fine under South Carolina law. The breach of trust charge carries up to 30 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.
Bond and court dates
Waller was booked into the Spartanburg County Detention Center and released the same day after posting bonds totaling $22,000.
He is due back in court on Nov. 9 for the breach of trust charge and on Dec. 17 for the lottery fraud charge. The 7th Circuit Solicitor’s Office will prosecute the case.
Waller is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty in court.
Sources: South Carolina Law Enforcement Division; Spartanburg County court records, as reported by The State