News writer
A Florida man's get-rich-quick scheme came crashing down after he allegedly stole stacks of Florida Lottery tickets — then tried cashing them in at local stores.
Investigators say the suspect pulled off not one but two late-night burglaries, swiping thousands in scratch-offs, cigarettes, and cash. But surveillance footage and a trail of winning tickets led police straight to him, proving that in the game of crime, the odds always favor the house.
The first robbery
Between 4 and 5 a.m. ET on January 11, 2025, a break-in took place at Jimmy's Discount Store, located at 4589 Northwest 7th Street in Miami. Arrest reports obtained by NBC6 state two suspects burglarized the business next door with a prying tool before breaking through the wall to get into Jimmy's Discount Store.
Once inside the discount store, the suspects ransacked the front counter. During that ransack, they stole cigarette cartons, watches, rolls of Florida Lottery scratch-off tickets, and the cash register.
Police were able to obtain surveillance footage from inside the store, which showed one of the suspects throwing these items into a bag before ripping the cash register out and then running off with the items.
Another camera from the back of the store captured the suspects, one of them later identified as 49-year-old Yoamil Napoles, wearing gloves and a hoodie as a makeshift head covering to help conceal their identities.
Officials said there was about $7,000 worth of items stolen during this first burglary.
Cashing in those lottery tickets
Investigators received a list on January 21, which showed the stores where the suspects were attempting to cash out the stolen lottery tickets.
One of those stores happened to be a Kwik Stop, located on Northwest 17th Street in Miami. Police were able to get surveillance footage from the Kwik Stop, which reportedly showed Napoles wearing the same clothes as the suspect in the January 11 burglary. He was scanning and cashing out the stolen lottery tickets, officials said.
The second robbery
Authorities were still investigating the first robbery when another robbery took place, this time at the Kwik Stop, located at 764 Northwest 29th Street in Miami, on January 25.
During this robbery, Napoles allegedly got into the store using the store's roof. While in the store, he reportedly took around $2,000 worth of lottery tickets, around $2,000 worth of cigarettes, and $450 in cash, the arrest report states.
Investigators once again saw Napoles cashing out the stolen lottery tickets at other locations using the surveillance footage from the list of stores they received.
Authorities also stated the burglary caused about $2,000 in damage to the store's roof, but they're waiting for estimates to come back on the damage for the exact amount.
A confession and arrest
Police were finally able to take Napoles into custody on Tuesday, February 4. Detectives spoke with the suspect, and he gave a full confession, the arrest report states.
Authorities also spoke to Napoles' girlfriend, who identified him in photos from the surveillance footage.
Napoles was arrested and booked into jail. He was charged with burglary, grand theft, criminal mischief, and dealing in stolen property, officials said. Napoles was ordered to be held without bond.
During Napoles' first court appearance, a detective testified that they believed Napoles was part of a group that is suspected in several other similar robbery cases in the area, but no other arrests were made at this time.
Enjoy playing the Florida Lottery, and please remember to play responsibly.
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