Gas Station Clerk Arrested For Allegedly Stealing $1 Million Lottery Ticket From Customer
A Tennessee gas station clerk is facing felony theft charges after allegedly stealing a $1 million winning lottery ticket from a customer. The incident occurred at a Shell station in Murfreesboro, where the customer bought two $20 Diamond and Gold lottery tickets and asked the clerk, Meer Patel, to check them. Patel told the customer that one ticket was a winner worth $40 and discarded the other, claiming it was a loser.
However, surveillance footage showed Patel retrieving the discarded ticket and pocketing it after the customer left. The video also captured Patel celebrating upon discovering the ticket’s true value. Suspicion arose when Patel attempted to cash the winning ticket, prompting lottery officials to investigate. They contacted the rightful owner, who was initially skeptical but eventually claimed his prize at the Tennessee Lottery office.
Lt. Detective Steve Craig commented, “The customer never knew he was the winner until we made contact with him. This is life-changing money.” Patel now faces charges of theft of over $250,000, classified as a Class A felony. He has been booked into the Rutherford County Jail.
This incident underscores the importance of personally verifying lottery tickets to avoid falling victim to similar scams. Lottery players are encouraged to check their tickets independently and not solely rely on store clerks to prevent such fraudulent activities.
