Rohail Khan – A Bay County convenience store clerk was arrested after a Florida Lottery security investigation alleged he kept a $1,000 Scratch-Off test ticket instead of returning it with claim instructions, then sold the right to claim the prize for $800.
The Florida Lottery’s security operation played out like a trap with an agenda: a compliance ticket meant to look like a legitimate $1,000 winner, placed at Bay Food Mart in Panama City as investigators monitored whether required procedures were followed.
On Tuesday, the Florida Lottery said the case began during a routine retailer compliance operation at the store. Investigators determined that store clerk Rohail Khan allegedly failed to follow required procedures after processing the compliance ticket designed to appear as a legitimate $1. 000 winner. Instead of returning the ticket to the customer along with claim instructions. Khan allegedly kept both the ticket and the documentation.
Authorities say the ticket was later scanned using the Florida Lottery mobile app shortly after the compliance operation concluded. Days afterward, an individual traveled to Florida Lottery headquarters in Tallahassee, attempting to claim the same prize. Investigators then determined that the ticket had allegedly been sold by Khan for $800. a move they say violated state law that prohibits transferring or selling lottery prize claims.
“Retailers are entrusted with following strict procedures that protect players and ensure fairness in every Lottery transaction. ” Florida Lottery Acting Secretary Reginald D. Dixon said in a statement. “When those procedures are disregarded for personal benefit, it compromises the system we rely on. Our Division of Security will continue conducting compliance operations and pursuing accountability wherever violations occur.”.
The Lottery emphasized that the impact stretches beyond one case. Proceeds from lottery games contribute billions of dollars annually to education funding across the state. including support for the Bright Futures Scholarship Program. Officials said attempts to improperly profit from prize claims can reduce resources intended for students and families.
After the investigation, Khan was arrested and charged with one count of dealing in stolen property and one count of unlawfully selling the right to claim a lottery prize, according to the news release. It was not immediately known whether he had obtained legal representation.
The Florida Lottery’s Division of Security said it will continue working with local, state, and federal partners to ensure compliance at retail locations statewide and to protect the integrity of lottery operations.
Florida Lottery Bay Food Mart Rohail Khan Scratch-Off Tallahassee Bay County lottery security dealing in stolen property unlawful selling right to claim
So he kept a “test” ticket but still sold the claim? That’s basically rigging his own register.
I don’t even get it, like if it scanned then it was real right? $800 for a $1,000 winner seems like scam math but also kinda not worth all that jail over like c’mon.
They put a trap ticket out and then blame the clerk like it’s his fault he did the normal process. If the lottery wants fairness why not just pay the prize and call it a day? Also Tallahassee is always doing something.
This is why I never trust gas station lottery stuff. Next thing you know they’re “compliance testing” you while you’re just buying a scratcher. Dealing in stolen property sounds like regular theft, not “selling a claim,” like he stole the ticket and then tried to cash it later. If someone scanned it with an app how is that even allowed anyway??