Walmart Cashier Arrested For Holding Customer’s Winning Lottery Receipt

A Walmart employee in Florida has been arrested (and fired) for allegedly pocketing a $2,700 winning lottery receipt after she “helped” an elderly lottery winner fill out the form to collect the winnings.

Tameka Hall, 40, is facing felony grant theft charges in Volusia County, Florida, according to News 6 Orlando report.

Hall was working as a cashier when the victim walked into DeLand Walmart on South Woodland Boulevard last Sunday morning to claim the Florida Lottery prize. 

Hall, according to investigators, helped the customer fill out the paperwork, and then she printed the receipt needed to redeem the prize.

But instead of handing over the receipt, Hall — as seen on surveillance video footage — instead folded up the receipt and plopped it in her uniform vest pocket.

Excuses, excuses

Sheriff’s deputies met with Hall the next day inside the Walmart security offices, and Hall claimed to have been distracted by other customers, resulting in her absent-mindedly putting the winning receipt in her pocket.

This story was clearly not bought by the police, who then took Hall to her car in the Walmart parking lot where they found the winning lottery receipt. Hall was placed under arrest at the scene.

Walmart declined to comment to News 6, but did confirm she is no longer employed by the company.

In Florida, any lottery winnings $599 or under can be cashed out at a retailer or district office. For anything $600 or up, the winner has to hand over the original ticket, an original Winner Claim Form, and valid ID.

In other words, the paperwork is part of the prize. The customer still had his winning ticket, but needed that store receipt tied to the transaction before he could take another step in the claim process.