COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A local convenience-store owner said an employee who stole thousands of dollars worth of tickets, finally hit the jackpot and then hit the road.
NBC 4 reported with the FAST FACTS.
Sam Shalash owns the Marathon Station on the 1000 block of Harmon Avenue on the city's near South Side.
He said for the last several months he -- and those who enjoy playing the lottery here -- unknowingly were bamboozled.
“He must have been doing it five or six months,” Shalash said.
In surveillance video, an employee can be seen behind the counter holding several instant scratch-off tickets. He scratches the tickets just out of view. The problem is, according to Shalash, the tickets are among hundreds -- if not thousands -- the employee never paid for.
“He must have stolen over $2,000 to $3,000 worth of tickets,” he said.
The employee told Shalash Thursday, Oct. 1, a customer had scratched off a winning ticket -- a big-winning ticket.
“He was like, 'I got great news. A lady just won $2 million,' " he said.
Shalash tried to locate the customer but failed.
After reviewing surveillance footage, as well as sales figures that indicated the store was thousands of dollars short in lottery sales, he realized what was happening.
Shalash claims a customer didn't win the jackpot at all.
“The whole time the ticket was in his back pocket,” he said.
Despite winning $2 million, Shalash said the employee kept coming back, stealing more tickets, scratching those tickets and looking for another big payday.
“He must have, in the last month, scratched over $1,000," Shalash said.
The employee of two-and-a-half years up and quit and disappeared Monday.
The $2 million, before taxes, already was paid out.
“I think he knew the word was out,” Shalash said.
Shalash contacted the Ohio Lottery Commission. A report was filed with the Columbus Division of Police.
The employee has not been charged.
Meanwhile, the Ohio Lottery told NBC 4 it was notified but said because the stolen ticket was reported a month late, the prize already was paid out.
For additional information, stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com -- Where Accuracy Matters.
To submit a story idea or news tip, e-mail stories@nbc4i.com.
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