PASCO COUNTY, Fla. – A convenience store clerk in New Port Richey was arrested following a Florida Lottery Division of Security investigation into the theft of a full book of Scratch-Off tickets.
The investigation began after management at Rebel #802 reported a suspected internal theft. Lottery Special Agents discovered that on May 20, 2026, employee Jason Irwin allegedly used a store-issued key to access a secured storage area during his shift.
According to investigators, Irwin removed a book of tickets from the “$15,000,000 Gold Rush Multiplier” game without paying for them, and later cashed them in at several different retail stores in Hudson, Florida.
Following the probe, Irwin was arrested and charged with one count of Grand Theft, eight counts of Dealing in Stolen Property, and eight counts of Unlawful Use of a Two-way Communication Device.
“Protecting the integrity of Florida Lottery games requires constant vigilance and strong partnerships with our retailers,” Florida Lottery Acting Secretary Reginald D. Dixon said in a statement. “When employees abuse access to Lottery inventory, it undermines public confidence and the purpose of our games. We appreciate the retailer’s swift reporting and the coordinated work of our investigators to bring this matter forward.”
Lottery officials noted that because ticket revenue funds state education initiatives like the Bright Futures Scholarship Program, internal thefts directly impact resources meant for local students. The Division of Security stated it is continuing to track down and investigate retail and prize violations across the state alongside local and federal law enforcement.
READ: Scratch That Itch: Florida Lottery Unleashes Four Brand New Games With $360 Million In Prizes
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