TAMPA, Fla. – A Tampa convenience store owner faces legal action after an undercover state sting caught him trying to pocket a customer’s $1,000 winning scratch-off ticket, Florida Lottery officials announced.
The incident occurred during an undercover compliance check at the Zoya Shell gas station, located at 3602 W. Gandy Boulevard in Tampa. An undercover Florida Lottery special agent walked into the store with two energy drinks, a losing ticket, and a winning scratch-off ticket worth $1,000.
The clerk, identified as store owner Amar Yasser Hamden, ran the winning ticket through the lottery terminal. The machine printed a “Player Claim Instructions” receipt, which is automatically generated whenever a prize exceeds $599…