News writer
It started like any other morning shift at a Washington gas station, until a customer walked in with what looked like a winning lottery ticket. The machine lit up, the familiar tune of “You're in the Money” rang out, and for a moment it seemed like someone's luck had changed.
But this wasn't an ordinary ticket, and the person handing it over wasn't an ordinary player. What unfolded next turned into a sting operation that landed the clerk herself in hot water.
Undercover sting does its job
On August 20, Maria Garcia-Navarro, 35, was working at a Wapato gas station, according to court documents. During her shift, an undercover Washington State Lottery security specialist showed up with a special lottery ticket, which wasn't real, but would scan showing it was a $1,000 winner.
Garcia-Navarro was supposed to scan the ticket and then direct the man to contact the Washington State Lottery. However, that is not what happened.
The man entered the store and gave the ticket to the clerk. She scanned the ticket, and the machine started playing, “You're in the Money.”
Playing the song indicates that the ticket was a winner. The machine would then print out a slip for the person trying to cash in the ticket, advising them to cash the ticket at a state lottery office.
However, that didn't happen. Garcia-Navarro allegedly paused for several moments before telling the undercover officer that the ticket wasn't a winner, authorities said.
Trying to claim the 'non-winning' ticket
Despite Garcia-Navarro telling the undercover agent that the ticket wasn't a winner, it seems that she thought it was.
Just two days after the undercover agent brought in the ticket, Garcia-Navarro's daughter went into the state lottery office in Kennewick and tried to claim the $1,000 prize. At that time, lottery officials called the Kennewick Police Department.
When talking with the police, Garcia-Navarro said she remembered the security officer who had come into the store. She told police that the machine said his ticket wasn't a winner, according to court documents.
Garcia-Navarro told authorities that she threw the ticket away. However, she claims she went back to scan it into the lottery's app for “points.” She later admitted to investigators that she had found and cashed other winning tickets.
Garcia-Navarro was charged with fraudulently claiming a lottery prize and pleaded innocent in Benton County Superior Court, officials said.
Lottery theft in West Virginia
The police in West Virginia were working on their own lottery theft case recently.
Around 3:30 a.m. EST on August 28, officers responded to a robbery-in-progress call at Opportunity Knocks, located at 423 Ragland Road in Beckley.
According to the caller, a man entered the business — which is a video lottery store — brandished a firearm, and then told the employee to give him some money. The man then fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of money.
Officers canvassed the area and looked over surveillance footage, which helped them identify the suspect's vehicle. They then followed the direction the car went, and around 11:00 a.m. EST, they located the suspect's vehicle driving on the road.
Police conducted a traffic stop, which led to the arrest of Eric Dillon, who has now been charged with first-degree robbery. Officers searched Dillon's car and his residence, which resulted in the recovery of the weapon used and a portion of the money stolen.
Enjoy playing the Washington Lottery, and please remember to play responsibly.
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