News writer
Two South Carolina women are behind bars after police said they tried to cash stolen lottery tickets and pocket the winnings.
Stolen lottery tickets
According to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, agents arrested 37-year-old Angel Nicole Huitt on July 18. On July 26, North Augusta Department of Public Safety officers arrested 42-year-old Jenifer Nicole Gilmore.
SLED Agent Andrew Jackson said Huitt allegedly stole 23 lottery tickets from the Save Stop gas station and convenience store located at 10307 Atomic Road in North Augusta.
On Feb. 26, 2023, Huitt then cashed those tickets for $94 at another gas station on Old 96 Indian Trail in Batesburg, officials said.
Not registering the tickets
As for Gilmore's charges, she worked as a clerk at the BP gas station on Atomic Road.
On June 15, 2023, a customer came into the gas station looking to cash a winning lottery ticket valued at $100, officers said. Gilmore paid the customer $100 from the register.
However, Gilmore reportedly didn't register the ticket with the South Carolina Education Lottery, police said. Instead, she went across the street to another convenience store and cashed the ticket for $100.
Both women arrested
Both Huitt and Gilmore have been arrested and charged with intent to defraud and counterfeit game tickets, authorities said.
According to officials, influencing the winning of a lottery prize is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $50,000, or both.
The women were booked into the Aiken County Detention Center. They are each being held on a $5,000 bond.
Legitimate instant ticket winners
While Huitt and Gilmore tried to cheat their way into a lottery win, the South Carolina Education Lottery recently announced some instant winners who hit it big. Some of the big winners who claimed their winning this past week from the SCEL were:
- $5,000 from a Win It All ticket purchased in Sumter.
- $10,000 from a Junior Jumbo Bucks ticket purchased in Cleveland.
- $30,000 from a $30,000 Gold Rush ticket purchased in Columbia.
- $50,000 from a Jumbo Bucks ticket purchased in Seneca.
- $300,000 from a Power 777 ticket purchased in Seneca.
- $300,000 from a Wild Cash Multiplier Extra Play ticket purchased in Darlington.
- $300,000 from a Wild Cash Multiplier Extra Play ticket purchased in Scranton.
- $1,000,000 from a Royal Millions ticket purchased in Greer.
Want to see all the lucky scratch-off winners from the SCEL? Lottery officials have a page dedicated to all of the winners from the last three months. Is your name on the list? Check it out on the South Carolina Lottery website.
If your name isn't on the list, there is still time to make it on that list. Try your luck at any of the scratch-off games or draw games for your chance to become a big winner in the South Carolina Lottery.
Enjoy playing the South Carolina Lottery, and please remember to play responsibly.
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