Elderly Florida customer won a $2,700 lottery prize and returned to claim it; cashier allegedly hid the receipt and arrested on a grand theft charge

A Florida Walmart employee has been arrested after authorities accused her of concealing a lottery receipt belonging to an elderly customer who had won a cash prize after regularly playing the same numbers. According to a report by ClickOrlando, 40-year-old Tameka Hall was taken into custody and charged with felony ‘grand theft’ following an incident at a Walmart convenience store in DeLand.

Investigators with the Volusia Sheriff's Office said the incident began Sunday morning, June 14 when an elderly man visited the store with a winning Florida Lottery ticket worth $2,700. Hall, who was working as a cashier, reportedly assisted him by explaining the process required to claim the prize.

However, several hours later, the customer discovered he no longer had the validation receipt needed to collect his winnings. He returned to the store and informed management about the missing document.


Store management subsequently reviewed surveillance footage, which detectives say showed Hall folding the receipt and placing it inside the left pocket of her work vest before leaving for the day, according to ClickOrlando.

When deputies questioned Hall in Walmart's security office on Monday morning, she reportedly said she became sidetracked by another customer shortly after helping the lottery winner. Investigators said Hall claimed she put the receipt in her pocket with the intention of turning it over to a manager but failed to do so before leaving work.

According to the arrest complaint, Hall said she did not know why she kept the receipt and insisted she never intended to prevent the customer from receiving his winnings.

Authorities later accompanied Hall to her vehicle, where deputies recovered the missing lottery receipt. She was subsequently arrested and charged.

The case has also highlighted the importance of safeguarding lottery documents after a win.

Oscar Acosta, founder of LottoExpert.net, told ClickOrlando that players should immediately sign the back of a winning ticket, photograph it, and keep all claim-related paperwork together.

"You need to protect that ticket," Acosta said. "You don't want to lose track of that ticket."

The Florida Lottery similarly advises winners to sign the back of their tickets as soon as they verify a prize. According to the lottery's claim guidelines, prize money is paid to the individual whose name appears on the back of the ticket.

For prizes that require redemption through a district office or by mail, officials recommend keeping the ticket, validation receipt, claim form, and identification together until the claim process has been completed.

Walmart declined to comment on the allegations when contacted by ClickOrlando. The retailer did confirm that Hall is no longer employed by the company.