News writer
A Missouri couple may have thought they hit the jackpot, but their alleged scheme was anything but lucky. Authorities say the pair swiped lottery tickets from a convenience store where Bo worked as an assistant manager, cashing in winnings while racking up tens of thousands in losses for the store.
Their alleged plan involved sneaky stashes, a suspicious bathroom break, and even a dramatic getaway attempt. But when the numbers finally caught up with them, their luck ran out.
Swiping tickets while at work
Between May 1, 2024, and September 30, 2024, an asset protection corporate investigator for Casey's Convenience Store Company became aware of a lottery ticket shortage at Casey's store located at 604 N. Main St. in Republic. This location is where Bo Simmons worked as the store's assistant manager.
An asset protection specialist then visited the store on October 11, 2024. During that visit, they reviewed security footage and spoke with employees, according to probable cause statements from the Republic Police Department and obtained by the Springfield Daily Citizen.
In that security footage, officials said Bo Simmons was seen 17 different times taking high dollar Missouri Lottery tickets — $30 and $50 — and concealing them, usually in the pockets of his cargo pants. During one of the incidents, he could be seen hiding the tickets under cardboard boxes he was moving around the store.
During the footage on May 28, 2024, investigators saw Bo Simmons take three $50 tickets and four $2 tickets from the lottery display. He then brought them to the register, rang up the $2 lottery tickets, and gave them to a customer. He then took the $50 tickets and hid them in his pockets without paying for them.
Authorities saw Bo Simmons take high-dollar tickets and hide them in various ways without paying for them between June and October 2024.
Working with his wife on the lottery scheme
While Bo Simmons was working as an assistant manager at the Casey's location in Republic, he was also working with his wife on this lottery scheme. He would swipe the tickets and she would cash in the winning tickets.
On October 5, 2024, security footage showed Bo Simmons taking about 20 tickets worth $680 and putting them in his pocket without paying for them. Later that day, his wife, Cortney Simmons, came into the store and started to redeem various tickets.
In the video, Bo could be seen going into the same bathroom with Cortney. When they exited the bathroom, Bo Simmons' pants pocket seemed to be less full, and Cortney started to redeem winning lottery tickets, officials said.
One of the missing $50 lottery tickets that was identified by the store was redeemed on July 8, 2024, at the Missouri Lottery Office in Springfield. That winning ticket was worth $1,000 and was redeemed by someone identifying herself as Cortney Braughton.
The woman used her social security card to redeem the ticket and was given a check for $960. Officials determined that Braughton is an alias name for Cortney Simmons, and the actual social security card belongs to Cortney Simmons.
In addition, authorities said they identified two different Walmart stores in Springfield where some of the missing tickets from the Casey's store were redeemed. Detectives reviewed the security footage from those Walmart locations and saw Cortney redeeming the lottery tickets and collecting hundreds of dollars.
Couple hiding from police
On October 17, 2024, an asset protection specialist from Casey's went to the store in Republic again. During this visit, they were coming to interview Bo Simmons about the lottery ticket theft, but Bo ran out of the store and left the property before an interview could be conducted.
Bo had been employed with the Casey's store for about one year. He was recently promoted to assistant manager before this investigation began, officials said. After he ran from the store, he was fired from his job.
Then, on January 20, 2025, a detective tried to arrest Cortney Simmons. However, she tried to hide inside the trunk of her father's vehicle.
Charges filed against the couple
The Republic couple was officially charged in the lottery ticket theft case, which caused a loss of more than $70,000, on March 25. They were both charged with a class D felony of stealing more than $750, according to authorities.
Bo is scheduled to appear in court on April 29. Meanwhile, Cortney is scheduled to appear in court on May 5.
Enjoy playing the Missouri Lottery, and please remember to play responsibly.
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