News writer
A couple in Florida has been arrested after they allegedly created a fake lottery ticket and tried to claim the “$1 million prize,” according to authorities.
Kira Enders, 36, tried to return what she said was a winning $50 scratch-off ticket from the Florida Lottery game 500X the Cash. However, authorities said the ticket was clearly altered and what she tried to submit to the Florida Lottery was two tickets “crudely” taped together, according to the Escambia County Sheriff's Office.
Escambia Sheriff Chip Simmons said:
They had an individual that thought that they could crudely take two tickets and put them together and pretend as if they were a million-dollar winner.
Trying to claim the $1 million prize
On March 1, Enders allegedly brought the “winning ticket” to a Florida Lottery office in Pensacola, police said. Lottery officials immediately designated the ticket as a “non-winner.”
During her visit to the officer, Enders signed official forms acknowledging that there could be legal consequences if she had tampered with a ticket, the Sheriff's Office said.
On March 7, Enders called in, asking about the status of the ticket. Special Agent Richard Pisanti received the call and asked Enders to come to the Florida Lottery office. On March 11, Enders and 32-year-old Dakota Jones, who drove her to the office, were “immediately detained and separated for investigation.”
Questioning Enders and Jones
Authorities questioned the couple, who reportedly told different stories about how they came across the winning ticket, claiming they had taped it together after it was ripped up.
Enders reportedly told investigators, “What, they don't go together?” When talking with investigators, Jones allegedly said, “they are honest people and they aren't into fraud.”
Police reports state that Jones said he “didn't know it was a crime to bring it to the lottery office” and it wasn't their “intentions to get over on the lottery.”
Arrested and charged
Despite their stories and claims, the couple was eventually arrested. Jones was arrested and booked into the Escambia County Jail on April 16, and Enders was arrested and booked into the Escambia County Jail on April 18.
Per the booking database, Enders and Jones are facing several charges, including larceny/grand theft of more than $100,000 and passing a forged/altered state lottery ticket with an intent to defraud.
Enders and Jones were both released on April 19 from jail with bonds of $20,000 and $17,500, respectively. They are due back in court on May 10, officials said.
In a statement, Simmons said this was a pretty cut-and-dry case for investigators.
Simmons said:
I don't think this is gonna be a made-for-TV movie type of situation because it was clear to the lottery officials, and obviously clear to us, that she had taken two tickets with different, you know, one side had one serial number, the other side had the other serial number on it. Especially whenever you pretend like you've won a million dollars, they're gonna take a look at this ticket.
Enjoy playing the Florida Lottery, and please remember to play responsibly.
