CHARLESTON COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA – A Charleston County man is facing fraud charges after investigators say he stole multiple lottery tickets and cashed them in for prize money at local stores.
Suspect Identified as Gas Station Employee
According to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), 43-year-old Terrance Patton Jr. was formally charged Monday with four counts of intent to defraud using counterfeit game tickets.
Arrest warrants allege Patton stole scratch-off lottery tickets from multiple businesses while he was working as an employee at a Spinx gas station. Surveillance footage reportedly showed him in the act.
Tickets Redeemed at Publix and Circle K
Authorities said Patton later redeemed the stolen tickets for prize money at several different locations, including a Publix grocery store and a Circle K convenience store. Each cash-in involved claiming winnings that were not rightfully his.
Used an Unknowing Third Party
Court documents add another layer to the case: on May 29, Patton allegedly handed 13 stolen scratch-off tickets to an unsuspecting third party. That individual unknowingly cashed in the tickets and gave the prize money back to Patton, further linking him to the fraud.
Arrest and Booking
Following the investigation, Patton was taken into custody and booked at the Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center in Charleston County.
Officials have not released details on the total value of the stolen tickets or the prize money collected…