Sting operation exposes lottery fraud by four gas station employees

Think you can outsmart the lottery? Think again. Four South Carolina gas station workers are learning the hard way that trying to cash in on fraudulently obtained lottery tickets is a losing gamble.

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) recently uncovered the alleged schemes during routine compliance checks. This led to the discovery of attempts to cash in on fraudulent lottery tickets.

Lottery fraud in South Carolina

The SLED announced four people have been charged with lottery fraud during annual compliance checks at several gas stations in Midlands.

On June 26, 2024, Terry Xavier Myers, 30, was working at the Gaz Bah station, located at 6201 Farrow Road in Columbia, when he acquired a South Carolina Education Lottery compliance ticket through fraud/deception.

Myers then passed the ticket at the SCEL claims center in Columbia on June 27. The ticket was valued at $1,000 and authorities said the theft and attempted redemption of the ticket was caught on camera.

Ishrat Ahmad Syed, 57, also reportedly obtained a SCEL compliance ticket through fraud/deception on June 26, 2024. Syed was working at Easy Spot, located at 3213 Farrow Road in Columbia when he obtained the ticket.

Syed allegedly deceived an SLED officer during a retailer compliance check and then tried to pass the compliance ticket at the SCEL claims center in Columbia on August 6. The ticket was valued at $1,000.

On June 28, 2024, Ayeisha M. Watts, 50, reportedly acquired a SCEL compliance ticket through fraud/deception at Exxon #5, located at 388 Caw Caw Highway in St. Matthews, where she was employed.

Watts allegedly deceived an SLED officer during a retailer compliance check and then tried to pass the compliance ticket at the SCEL claims center in Columbia on July 1. The ticket was valued at $1,000.

On September 6, 2024, Barbara M. Kreis, 30, allegedly passed a South Carolina Education Lottery compliance ticket at the SCEL claims center in Columbia, according to officials. Kreis was employed at Young's station, located at 431 N. Main Street in Bishopville.

Police said she acquired the ticket through fraud/deception on September 4. The ticket was valued at $1,000, and an undercover SLED agent discovered the ticket during a retailer compliance check. Kreis kept the ticket and was informed by the agent that it wasn't a winner.

All four suspects were charged with Intent to Defraud, Counterfeit Game Tickets. They were all  booked into the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center in Richland County.

Big wins on legit scratchers

While these suspects tried to cheat their way to big lottery wins, other players in South Carolina did things the right way and walked away with big winnings. These big wins include:

• A player from Blackville won $500,000 playing Mining For Gems, the top prize for that game. The winner told lottery officials they plan on buying a house and paying off some bills with their winnings.
• A player in St. Stephens won $50,000 playing Jumbo Bucks.
• A player in Rock Hill won $50,000 playing $2,000,000 Millionaire.

Enjoy playing the South Carolina Lottery, and please remember to play responsibly.