All news

Scratch-off snatchers indicted in $150K Colorado Lottery ticket heist

Investigators say they struck when clerks weren't looking and cashed in before anyone noticed.

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser.
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser released a press release with more details about the lottery heist and those indicted for it. Photograph credit to CBS Colorado.
Todd Betzold

Colorado officials say a group of alleged thieves cashed in on the state's instant lottery games — without ever buying a ticket. According to a statewide grand jury indictment, a Colorado man and three others worked together to steal more than $150,000 in Colorado Lottery scratch tickets from gas stations and convenience stores in multiple counties.

The thefts followed a repeated formula: create a distraction, snatch the tickets, redeem the winnings fast, and keep the haul under $600 to avoid triggering lottery claims center protocols.

At least 45 different thefts

Between August 2023 and November 2024, prosecutors say Richard McBee committed at least 45 separate lottery scratch-off ticket thefts in Denver, Boulder, Arapahoe, and El Paso counties, as well as other municipalities. According to a press release from Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, McBee worked with Adam Pacheco, Tawny McCurry, and David Goetken during the alleged thefts.

Authorities say the thefts were all completed in similar manners. They would target gas stations where only one attendant was working and they would have one person distract the attendant with some kind of issue outside, like a credit card allegedly stuck in the pump or a supposed gas spill.

While they were getting the attendant outside of the business, another suspect would then sneak behind the counter inside the business and steal high-value Colorado Lottery tickets.

The suspects were moving fast

After taking the lottery tickets, the suspects wasted no time cashing in any of the winning tickets. Prosecutors said McBee would go to a different gas station or lottery retailer and redeem prizes from the stolen tickets.

Lottery retailers will provide customers who come in with a winning ticket of less than $600 with their cash earnings. From there, the store will be reimbursed by the Colorado Lottery. This allows the player to get their winnings quicker than going to one of the four Colorado Lottery claims centers.

If a player won over $600, then they would have to go to one of those claim centers to get their winnings. However, authorities said McBee and the three other suspects only cashed in their winning tickets at lottery retailers. They never obtained anything over $600 from one location, which they would have had to do at a claims center.

Over $150K in stolen tickets

According to Weiser, the retail value of the stolen tickets along with the prize money awarded had a total value of over $150,000.

He said:

The individuals accused of these lottery ticket retail thefts harmed businesses along the Front Range. Colorado Lottery sales proceeds go toward preserving and protecting state parks, trails, and open spaces, so Coloradans who enjoy the great outdoors are also victims of lottery theft.

With the statewide grand jury indictment handed down, McBee is facing four counts of Class 4 felony theft. Pacheco is facing one count of Class 4 felony theft, and McCurry and Goetken are each facing one count of Class 5 felony theft.

According to the press release, Colorado Lottery Senior Director Tom Seaver stated:

The Colorado Lottery's Security & Investigations section is dedicated to ensuring the integrity and security of its games, as well as protecting its customers and retailers.

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

Comments

0
Loading comments

Related articles

A Lotto New Zealand sign.
New Zealand blocks international syndicates from mega-jackpot raids

Kiwi lottery officials outsmart multi-million dollar overseas gambling rings.

Samantha Herscher profile pic

Samantha Herscher

A hand holding a phone with the TikTok logo on screen.
How TikTok is changing the way we play the lottery

Livestreams, influencers, and ASMR scratch cards — TikTok is reshaping how a new generation plays the lottery.

Todd Betzold profile pic

Todd Betzold

Rhynell T. Folds.
Ohio man sentenced for buying lottery tickets with stolen credit cards

An Ohio man will get prison time for fraudulently buying over $1,000 lottery tickets in a harebrained scheme.

Halley Bondy profile pic

Halley Bondy

The Marion County Sheriff's Office building.
Employee blames whiskey and Tylenol PM for lottery ticket theft

Blaming the booze and the pills, the suspect claimed he blacked out, but the cameras didn't.

Todd Betzold profile pic

Todd Betzold

Recent articles

View All
The new Wyoming Lottery Headquarters is located at 808 West 20th Street, Cheyenne, Wyoming, 82001.
Wyoming Lottery headquarters has a brand new address

Lottery winners in Wyoming must use the new address to claim prizes.

Halley Bondy profile pic

Halley Bondy

The Massachusetts State Lottery West Springfield Prize Claim and Retail Center.
Keno breaks records while Powerball and Mega Millions stumble

Massachusetts discovers its lottery lifeline wasn't the big jackpots after all.

Samantha Herscher profile pic

Samantha Herscher

An aerial view of the Iowa State Fairgrounds with the Guinness World Records and Iowa Lottery scratch-offs logos.
Scratch your way into history at the Iowa State Fair

$4K prizes, a shot at $40K, and a place in the record books — what more could you ask for?

Todd Betzold profile pic

Todd Betzold

Virginia Lottery Executive Director Khalid R. Jones (Right), delivering the $50,000 check to E & C Mid-Atlantic Vice President of Operations Juan Torres (Left).
Virginia Lottery on the hunt for record-breaking Mega Millions winner

A lucky lottery player won $348 million in Virginia. Will they come forward?

Halley Bondy profile pic

Halley Bondy