News writer
Two Texas residents are facing theft and lottery fraud charges after police say they stole dozens of scratch-off tickets from a convenience store and redeemed them at other businesses.
Demarion Orion Cooper and Marissa Rena Diaz were arrested Monday, November 9, 2026, following an investigation into tickets reported stolen from a Stripes store on Kell West Boulevard. According to authorities, investigators determined that 75 tickets valued at more than $3,000 had been taken. The tickets were redeemed before they could be flagged by the Texas Lottery Commission, police said.
Tickets allegedly redeemed at two other stores
The investigation began Saturday, November 7, when Wichita Falls Police Department officers received a report about the stolen lottery tickets.
According to court documents, tickets taken from Stripes were later redeemed at Love’s and the Flying J Truck Stop. Investigators reviewed reports and surveillance footage to determine who allegedly took the tickets and subsequently claimed prizes.
On Monday, the department’s Crimes Against Property Unit identified Cooper and Diaz as suspects, authorities said. Police later located both during a traffic stop. Officers reported finding a partially scratched lottery ticket inside the vehicle.
According to an affidavit, investigators interviewed Cooper and Diaz separately. Police said both admitted to stealing the tickets and later redeeming them.
Theft and lottery fraud allegations
Both suspects were booked into the Wichita County Jail on allegations of theft of property valued at more than $2,500 and less than $30,000. They also face allegations of claiming a lottery prize of more than $200 and less than $10,000 by fraud.
The reported value of the stolen tickets should not be confused with the amount of prize money collected. Authorities identified more than $3,000 in ticket value, but the information available does not specify the total winnings allegedly redeemed.
That distinction matters: the value of a batch of scratch-offs and the prizes those tickets ultimately pay are separate figures. The case involves two alleged acts: taking the tickets from the retailer and collecting lottery prizes through fraud.
Both suspects remained in custody
Cooper and Diaz also face theft charges involving property valued at more than $100 and less than $750 stemming from September 2026. Those charges concern an earlier matter, separate from the November lottery ticket allegations.
Cooper was additionally charged with organized retail theft. Diaz had multiple pending citations.
At the time of the original report, both remained in custody. Cooper’s bonds totaled $47,500, while Diaz’s bonds totaled $42,500. Diaz also owed an additional $3,116 in citations, according to the report.
For lottery retailers and players, the case highlights the importance of identifying stolen tickets before someone attempts to collect a prize. In this instance, police say the tickets were redeemed before officials could flag them.
Investigators instead relied on surveillance footage, reports, and follow-up interviews to link the alleged theft at one convenience store to redemptions at two other locations. The arrests followed two days after the initial report.
Enjoy playing the Texas Lottery, and please remember to play responsibly.
