A Tennessee store clerk named Meet Patel found himself entangled with the criminal justice system after attempting to steal a winning lottery ticket. The incident unfolded when a customer bought two $20 Diamond and Gold lottery tickets at a Shell gas station in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
After scratching the tickets, the customer handed them to Patel to check for winnings. One ticket had a $40 prize, while the other was worth $1 million. Patel, however, pocketed the $1 million ticket instead of informing the customer of his win.
The customer only learned about his jackpot when the police informed him that his ticket had been stolen. Surveillance footage revealed Patel’s actions, showing him initially discarding the $1 million ticket into the trash and later retrieving it to claim for himself. The footage also captured Patel celebrating after scratching off the ticket’s barcode, confirming it was a $1 million winner.
The Tennessee Lottery Commission became suspicious when Patel attempted to claim the substantial prize. The commission’s standard line of questioning raised red flags, prompting them to hold the ticket and advise Patel to get his affairs in order before returning. This hesitation and scrutiny were due to the large prize amount, which required claims to be processed at the Tennessee Lottery’s Nashville office.
As a result of his actions, Meet Patel is now facing significant legal consequences. He is currently being held at the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center on charges of theft exceeding $250,000. His bond has been set at $100,000, and a court hearing is scheduled for July 30. Patel’s attempt to steal the ticket not only cost him his job but also landed him in serious legal trouble.
This incident highlights the risks and ethical boundaries some individuals are willing to cross for financial gain. While the lottery winner ultimately received his rightful prize, the situation serves as a cautionary tale about the lengths to which people may go when faced with the temptation of easy money.
