29-04-2025
4 indicted on theft charges, accused of stealing over $150K in scratch Lottery tickets
DENVER (KDVR) — A statewide grand jury indicted four people on charges relating to the theft of instant-win scratch game tickets along Colorado's Front Range.
The thefts are alleged to have been accomplished in similar manners: At a gas station where only one attendant was on duty, one person would distract the attendant with something outside, like a supposed gas spill or a credit card allegedly stuck in the pump. Then the other suspect would sneak behind the counter and steal Colorado Lottery tickets.
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Retailers will provide customers who come in with a ticket that has a prize of less than $600 with their cash earnings and later be reimbursed by the Colorado Lottery, allowing the player to gather their winnings sooner than by going to one of the four Colorado Lottery claims centers. Some stores have lower amounts they are willing to pay out, such as $200.
Prosecutors said one of the suspects, Richard McBee, committed at least 45 separate lottery scratch ticket thefts between August 2023 and November 2024. The others indicted in the incidents were identified as Adam Pacheco, Tawny McCurry and David Goetken.
Thefts were reported in Denver, Boulder, Arapahoe and El Paso counties, as well as other municipalities.
Before the stolen tickets could be discovered, prosecutors said McBee would go to a different gas station or store and redeem prizes from the stolen tickets. McBee and the three other suspects would cash in the lottery tickets at the retailers, never obtaining over $600 from one location, to avoid going to a claims center.
Between the retail value of the stolen tickets and the prize money awarded, the Colorado Attorney General's Office said the total value of the thefts was over $150,000.
'The individuals accused of these lottery ticket retail thefts harmed businesses along the Front Range. Colorado Lottery sales proceeds go toward preserving and protecting state parks, trails, and open spaces, so Coloradans who enjoy the great outdoors are also victims of Lottery theft,' said Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser in an AG's office release.
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McBee is facing four counts of Class 4 felony theft. Pacheco is facing one count of Class 4 felony theft, and McCurry and Goetken each are facing one count of Class 5 felony theft.
'The Colorado Lottery's Security & Investigations section is dedicated to ensuring the integrity and security of its games, as well as protecting its customers and retailers,' Colorado Lottery Senior Director Tom Seaver said in the AG's office release.
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