A Florida woman mailed a winning Pick 4 ticket to a relative in South Florida after learning that it was worth $2,600. The ticket never reached its destination.
Four days after it was mailed, the prize was claimed at a Florida Lottery office by the postal carrier accused of taking it.
Investigators identified the carrier as Lekaysha Lockhart, 28.
Authorities say she admitted removing the ticket from mail she was responsible for handling and redeeming it herself.
The Ticket Was Redeemed Four Days After It Was Mailed
The ticket holder visited a Publix store in Tampa on June 15 and learned that her Pick 4 ticket had won $2,600, according to CBS Miami. The woman mailed the original ticket to a relative in South Florida so it could be submitted for payment.
When the envelope failed to arrive, she reported the missing ticket to the Florida Lottery. A Lottery inspector traced the ticket and determined that it had already been redeemed on June 19 at the agency’s Miami Lakes District Office.
The person who presented the ticket was identified as Lockhart, a U.S. Postal Service letter carrier. Florida Lottery security agents opened a joint investigation with the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General and the Broward Sheriff’s Office. Lockhart was arrested in Broward County on July 23.
Authorities Say She Admitted Taking the Ticket From the Mail
Following the arrest, investigators said Lockhart admitted stealing the winning ticket and redeeming it at the Lottery office. The Florida Lottery’s official claim instructions state that payment is made to the person whose name appears on the back of the ticket. The allegations indicate that Lockhart nevertheless presented the ticket and received the $2,600 prize.
The Allegations Will Be Prosecuted in Separate Jurisdictions
Lockhart faces charges of grand theft, dealing in stolen property, filing a false claim for payment, two counts of unlawful use of a two-way communications device and mail theft.
Florida Lottery officials said the alleged offenses occurred in multiple judicial circuits, requiring the related cases to be prosecuted separately. The Postal Service told CBS Miami that Lockhart was hired in 2025 and remained an employee after the arrest but was off duty.
Florida Recommends Trackable Mailing Methods
The Florida Lottery’s winner checklist tells players to sign the back of a winning ticket immediately after confirming the prize. Signing the ticket creates a direct connection between the physical ticket and the person claiming ownership.
Players may claim eligible prizes in person at a Florida Lottery district office or mail the required documents directly to the Lottery. The official claim instructions recommend using a trackable mailing method and explicitly state that the risk of mailing a winning ticket remains with the player.
A tracking number can document when the envelope entered the mail system, which facilities processed it and whether it reached the Lottery.
Suspected Employee Mail Theft Goes to the Postal Service OIG
A missing letter should first be reported to the Postal Service and the organization expecting the contents. In this case, contacting the Florida Lottery allowed an inspector to determine that the ticket had already been redeemed.
Suspected theft or misconduct involving a postal employee can be reported to the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General.
The OIG accepts reports through its online hotline and at 1-888-877-7644. A complaint should include the tracking number, mailing date, addresses, contents, suspected loss and any evidence showing which postal employees or facilities handled the item.