A U.S. Postal Service letter carrier has been charged after investigators accused her of stealing a winning Florida Lottery ticket from the mail and claiming the prize.
The Florida Lottery said July 31 that its security division and the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General jointly investigated the case.
A player contacted the Florida Lottery after a winning Pick 4 ticket she mailed failed to reach its destination. A lottery inspector determined that Lakaysha Lockhart redeemed the ticket June 19 at the agency’s Miami District Office, according to the release.
Officials later identified Lockhart as a USPS letter carrier. A joint operation by Florida Lottery special agents and USPS OIG investigators led to her arrest July 23.
The agency said Lockhart admitted after her arrest that she stole and redeemed the ticket. She is charged with grand theft, dealing in stolen property, filing a false claim for payment, mail theft and two counts of unlawful use of a two-way communications device.
Officials said the alleged offenses occurred in multiple judicial circuits and will be prosecuted separately. The release did not include information about Lockhart’s attorney or court appearances.
This is a developing story. Virginia Times will update as information becomes available.
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