A United States Postal Service letter carrier was arrested July 23 on charges of stealing a winning Pick 4 lottery ticket from the mail and fraudulently claiming the prize. Lekaysha Lockhart, who worked as a USPS letter carrier, faces charges including grand theft, dealing in stolen property, filing a false claim for payment, two counts of unlawful use of a two-way communications device and mail theft.
The arrest followed a joint investigation by the Florida Lottery Division of Security and the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General. A Florida Lottery player reported that a winning Pick 4 ticket she mailed never reached its intended destination. A Florida Lottery Inspector determined the ticket had been redeemed by Lockhart on June 19 at the Florida Lottery's Miami District Office.
Following her arrest, Florida Lottery Special Agents and USPS OIG investigators said Lockhart admitted to stealing the winning lottery ticket and redeeming it. Florida Lottery Secretary Reginald D. Dixon said the case reflects the agency's commitment to player protection. Dixon commended the Division of Security for their investigative work and thanked partners at the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General and the Broward County Sheriff's Office for their collaboration.
Because the alleged offenses occurred in multiple judicial circuits, the cases will be prosecuted separately, the Florida Lottery Division of Security said. The Florida Lottery's Office of Communications released details of the arrest in a news release.