An employee at a La Grande convenience store is facing legal trouble after allegedly stealing a winning lottery ticket. Oregon State Police reported that during a routine retail integrity check at Short Stop, a convenience store in La Grande, the employee was given lottery tickets to scan by an undercover detective. The clerk reportedly informed the detective that none of the tickets were winners, but one of the tickets was actually worth $25,000.
According to KOIN, upon realizing the ticket's value, officials at the Oregon Lottery put it on "hold." Nonetheless, on September 26, the employee mailed in the winning ticket in an attempt to collect the prize, along with the necessary claim form, and a signed declaration. This action prompted an investigation that led to the employee's citation for aggravated theft and computer crime, with additional charges of theft by deception and first-degree forgery being considered by the Marion County District Attorney’s Office.
Further details provided by Central Oregon Daily highlight that the clerk, whose name has been withheld, could face serious legal repercussions. These potential charges come despite no previous reports of compliance issues with the Short Stop, which has been a lottery retailer since 2005.
The Oregon Lottery, attuned to the need for accountability and fairness, conducts such undercover checks to fortify the integrity of its games. "While it is rare to see an individual be dishonest at one of our retailers, we have a responsibility to ensure our games are played with fairness and integrity," said Justin Hedlund, Oregon Lottery’s assistant director of security in a statement obtained by KPTV. Since 2020, the Oregon Lottery has conducted over 170 similar undercover checks across the state.
