WPBN: Following yearly compliance checks at several gas stations around the Midlands, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) has charged four people with lottery fraud.
During the course of the South Carolina Education Lottery’s (SCEL) regular compliance audits, several cases of fraud and deceit involving $1,000 lottery tickets were discovered.
Case Information:
1. Barbara M. Kreis, aged thirty
At the SCEL claims facility in Columbia, Barbara M. Kreis tried to claim a phony South Carolina Education Lottery ticket on September 6. The $1,000 ticket was first obtained by fraud and deceit while an undercover SLED agent at Young’s station, 431 N Main Street in Bishopville, was doing a compliance check.
The undercover cop told Kreis that the ticket was not a winner during the compliance check. Kreis kept the ticket, nevertheless, and went to the SCEL claims center to try to exchange it for the cash.
2. Terry Xavier Myers, aged thirty
At the SCEL claims facility in Columbia, Terry Xavier Myers also presented a phony South Carolina Education Lottery ticket. The $1,000 ticket was received fraudulently on June 26 at Gaz Bah station, which is situated at 6201 Farrow Road in Columbia, where Myers was working at the time.
The theft and ticket redemption attempt were caught on surveillance footage. Myers attempted to fraudulently redeem the ticket after using his position at the store to trick an SLED undercover investigator during the compliance check.
3. 57-year-old Ishrat Ahmad Syed
At Easy Spot, 3213 Farrow Road, Columbia, Ishrat Ahmad Syed was charged with obtaining a fake South Carolina Lottery ticket while conducting a compliance check. The $1,000 ticket was obtained by deception and fraud.
An SLED undercover investigator performing a compliance check was tricked by Syed, a store employee. Following an examination into the ticket’s attempted redemption, Syed’s fraudulent activities were discovered.
4. 50-year-old Ayeisha M. Watts
When Ayeisha M. Watts went to the SCEL claims facility in Columbia on July 1, she tried to redeem a fake South Carolina Education Lottery ticket. The $1,000 ticket was obtained through fraudulent means on June 28 while conducting a compliance check at Exxon
5, which is located at 388 Caw Caw Highway in St. Matthews
Watts, a store employee at the time, attempted to profit from the fraudulently obtained ticket by presenting it for redemption after using her position to deceive an SLED undercover officer.
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SLED’s Initiatives to Stop Lottery Fraud:
SLED and the South Carolina Education Lottery work together to guarantee the integrity of lottery operations throughout the state each year, and these compliance inspections are a part of that effort.
To spot fraudulent activity and safeguard the interests of legal participants and the lottery program, undercover operatives randomly visit merchant sites.
Due to their dishonest behavior, which compromises the integrity and equity of the state lottery system, the accused will be subject to legal repercussions. These incidents highlight how crucial it is to uphold compliance and openness in lottery-related retail activities.
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The public is encouraged to report any suspicious activity concerning lottery tickets or activities by SLED and the South Carolina Education Lottery.
Their dedication to accountability and equity guarantees that the lottery will continue to be a reliable source of revenue for the state’s educational initiatives.
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