News writer
What began as a quiet theft at a small Idaho convenience store soon spiraled into a tale of broken trust, backroom agreements, and a second unexpected twist. When the owner of Hitt the Road in Arimo discovered that thousands of dollars in Idaho Lottery tickets had gone missing, he didn't immediately call the police.
Instead, he struck a private deal with one of his employees to pay the money back in installments. But when he overheard a conversation that made him fear she might skip town, the situation quickly changed. And just when things seemed to settle, a second call to law enforcement would drag another employee into the spotlight — this time with video evidence in hand.
Store owner reports theft to police
The owner of Hitt the Road in Arimo contacted police on December 6, 2023, to report a theft, according to court documents. At that time, the store owner filed a report claiming 44-year-old Dwana Faye Campbell had stolen over $5,000 worth of Idaho Lottery tickets.
While the store manager didn't have an exact amount, she did tell law enforcement officers she believed the amount to be between $5,000 and $8,000.
A deal gone bad
Court records state the owner originally made a deal with Campbell to repay the stolen amount in monthly installments of $300. However, the owner became concerned after he overheard Campbell talking about a new job in Texas. He was worried that she would run away without fully paying back the amount she stole.
Officers talked with Campbell, who allegedly confirmed she had made that agreement with the owner of the store. She also had confessed to the theft of the lottery tickets. According to court documents, the original agreement between the owner and Campbell stated that the owner would not contact law enforcement.
A second call from the owner
The owner of Hitt the Road called police again on January 29, 2024. During that call, the owner alleged that 54-year-old Jimmy Albert Welton had also stolen lottery tickets from the store.
Investigators looked into the incident and talked with Welton. He told police that he paid for every lottery ticket he took. However, law enforcement officials challenged those claims, stating they had video evidence of Welton scratching and scanning tickets without ever paying for them.
He told police that he paid for them all at once at the end of his shift. However, officials said his claim did not align with the Lottery Commission's findings.
Charges filed
The two former convenience store employees have now been arrested and charged with the alleged theft of between $5,000 and $8,000 worth of lottery tickets. Welton was charged with one count of grand theft and four counts of illegally obtaining lottery tickets, authorities said. Campbell was charged with one count of grand theft.
If Welton is convicted, he could serve up to 34 years in prison and pay up to $105,000 in fines. If Campbell is found guilty, she could serve up to 14 years in prison and pay a fine of up to $5,000. Campbell is due back in court on July 15, with Welton scheduled for his preliminary hearing on July 16.
Enjoy playing the Idaho Lottery, and please remember to play responsibly.
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