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South Carolina job applicant arrested after stealing lottery tickets during interview

A South Carolina man faces serious charges after allegedly stealing lottery tickets during a job screening and trying to cash them across multiple stores.

Written by the BettingEdgeHub desk, 8 September 2026

A job interview in South Carolina took an unexpected turn when an applicant allegedly stole a pack of lottery tickets from the business premises. Antonio Levon Ricard Stewart, a 36 years old resident, was attending an employment screening on May 5, 2025. Prosecutors allege that Stewart took the tickets with the direct intention of defrauding the state lottery system. He managed to evade immediate capture, but law enforcement officers eventually arrested him in August 2026.

How the fraud fell apart

Stewart attempted to cash in his stolen tickets at several local retail locations. He successfully redeemed at least one $5 ticket at a Friendly Neighbor gas station during his run. However, his luck quickly ran out at other venues when staff tried to process the stolen items. Two tickets were rejected at the Carolina C Store, and three more were turned away at a Refuel store.

State lottery systems use multiple layers of protection to catch fraudulent redemption attempts. A ticket must first be scanned by an authorized retailer to register its eligibility with lottery headquarters before any prize can be paid out. Retailers can also report stolen inventory through a round the clock hotline to block payouts instantly. In addition, store surveillance cameras capture the faces of individuals who attempt to claim stolen rewards.

Severe penalties for lottery crime

Stewart is currently held at the Florence County Detention Center while awaiting further legal proceedings. He faces three counts of intent to defraud the lottery following his arrest. If convicted on all charges, he could serve up to 15 years behind bars and pay a maximum fine of $150,000. A conviction would also permanently ban him from receiving any lottery prizes in the state of South Carolina.