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Two Charged In Lottery Scheme; Store Owner Says He’s Out $70,000
December 9, 2013
Two people have been charged in connection with a lottery scheme that a Davisville store owner says has left him out of $70,000.
Deldon Ray McGhee, age 51 of Atmore, and Tracey Lynn McGhee, age 40 of Atmore, were each charged with one count of felony grand theft between $20,000 and $100,000. Both posted a $20,000 bond immediately after being booked into the Escambia County Jail. Officials said there is no known immediate family relationship between the McGhees.
Both were employed by the Grey Goose Lounge and Package on Highway 97 at the Florida/Alabama state line. During a four month period, they are accused of taking books of Florida Lottery scratch-off tickets, manipulating them in the lottery computer systems and redeeming winning tickets for cash.
The owner of the Grey Goose told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that he recorded a net loss of $70,000.
The Florida Lottery Commission provided evidence on the crime, including records on lottery ticket books, activation, redemption and redemption locations. Investigators also reviewed hours of video surveillance over a 10 day period in which the thefts can be seen, according to an arrest report.
Both told deputies that they did activate and redeem lottery tickets for cash and that other employees were also involved in fixing cash drawers that were short due to lottery ticket thefts. Both McGhees said they did not believe the amount taken by each could have exceeded $10,000, according to the report.
Deldon McGhee said he contacted the business owner and said he would pay back what was taken when received his birthday check in January from the Poarch Band of Creek Indians if he would not file charges, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report states.
Comments
12 Responses to “Two Charged In Lottery Scheme; Store Owner Says He’s Out $70,000”
hey Hmm if I were the owner I don’t think I would try anything like ur suggesting . that could only make things much worse for everyone.
Terri I would rather be big brother than stupid brother and be out $70000!!
Grand theft in front of a surveillance camera ? These 2 are not only dishonest, they’re plain stupid.
Why would you need to steal if you get one of them sweet birthday checks?
What’s Big Brother got to do with them stealing from the owner?
Haven’t people figured it out??Big brother is watching your every move in some fashion!!!
I agree both needs to go to jail… But they will make a plea deal and agree to pay the money back over time the store owner will never get all of it back.. I think if I was the store owner I would think hard about getting all my money back cause he will never get it all back going through the court system. That’s just how our system works!!
Oh and as for Mr. McGhee paying the owner back. I’m sure he said that because he didn’t want the owner to press charges because he knew he’d be going back to prison.
@Southern Girl.. WELL SAID!!
I do agree that Poarch does a lot for this community, HOWEVER, a large percentage uses this as a crutch. Everything is about the “Birthday money in January”. I certianly hope this business owner follows through with the charges.
As for Mr, McGhee, getting all that free money from Poarch wasn’t enough, he has to steal from somebody else. Yeah, he would pay it back with (his free birthday check money) and I would still throw his sorry butt under the jail. That’s what’s wrong with this place now……it’s never enough, give me, give me, give me, or I’ll just take yours. Throw them both in jail and make them pay dearly!!
STEALING is a crime.