LA GRANDE, Ore. — A store employee was cited and may face additional charges after they stole a winning Oregon Lottery ticket during an undercover check by Oregon State Police (OSP) at a store in La Grande in September, the Oregon Lottery reported Friday in a news release.
During the Sept. 19 operation, an undercover detective handed a number of Oregon Lottery tickets, including a winning one worth $25,000, to the clerk, who scanned the tickets and said there were no winners. About a week later, on Sept. 26, the person tried to redeem the $25,000 prize by mailing in the winning ticket with the lottery winner claim form and a signed declaration.
OSP detectives interviewed the person, who was cited for first-degree aggravated theft and computer crime. OSP has also recommended an additional charge of first-degree theft by deception and forgery to the Marion County District Attorney's Office.
"While it is rare to see an individual be dishonest at one of our retailers, we have a responsibility to ensure our games are played with fairness and integrity," said Justin Hedlund, Oregon Lottery's assistant director of security. "These checks are one way we accomplish that."
The business where the employee worked is not under investigation. "The business has been an Oregon Lottery retailer since 2005 and does not have a history of compliance issues," the Oregon Lottery said in a news release.
The Oregon Lottery did not identify the clerk.
OSP routinely conducts undercover checks at Oregon Lottery retailers. Since 2020, detectives have carried out 170 checks.
