A former Florida grocery-store employee is accused of stealing hundreds of scratch-off lottery tickets from a Winn-Dixie and redeeming nearly $40,000 in winnings.
People reported that Essie Latrell Davis, 45, of West Palm Beach, was booked into the Palm Beach County Jail on June 23 on charges of grand theft over $20,000 and organized fraud.
The case began after store management discovered discrepancies in scratch-off lottery ticket inventory at a Winn-Dixie in Palm Beach Gardens, according to CBS12.
Investigators said Davis had access to the store’s lottery ticket dispenser and secured safe. The allegations have not been proven in court.
Police Say She Took Tickets And Entire Booklets
According to CBS12, the investigation dates back to July 2025, when the store’s regional asset protection manager noticed a shortage of scratch-off tickets.
Surveillance footage allegedly showed Davis removing individual tickets and entire booklets from the lottery ticket dispenser and the secured safe, according to the station’s summary of the affidavit.
Authorities said the activity occurred over several weeks, from late July through mid-September 2025.
The Tickets Were Scanned With The Florida Lottery App
Investigators said the footage also showed Davis activating tickets at a store computer and scanning them with a Florida Lottery mobile app.
According to CBS12, investigators said the videos showed Davis discarding losing tickets and hiding winning tickets in her clothing.
Authorities said Davis allegedly took 456 individual tickets and 12 booklets, totaling more than 500 tickets. The reported loss to the store was $32,506, while records showed $39,128 in winnings from the scanned tickets.
Some Winning Tickets Were Traced To Publix Stores
The investigation did not stop at the Winn-Dixie inventory records. CBS12 reported that investigators tracked some of the winning tickets to multiple Publix locations in West Palm Beach.
Surveillance video from those Publix stores allegedly showed transactions that matched lottery records, including payouts ranging from $100 to $500 per ticket.
Police said Davis was confronted at the store in September 2025 but left before questioning was completed, leaving behind her cellphone. Investigators said the phone was seized as evidence, though they were unable to extract data from it despite obtaining a search warrant.
A Judge Set Bond And Restricted Store Contact
People reported that Circuit Judge Donald Hafele set Davis’s bond at $20,000 on each count and ordered her to have no contact with any Winn-Dixie or Publix stores.
Her next court appearance is scheduled for July 23, according to People. Online court records cited by the outlet showed Davis is represented by the Palm Beach County Public Defender’s Office.
Lottery Buyers Should Keep Control Of Their Tickets
The case is also a reminder for people who buy or redeem lottery tickets at grocery stores, gas stations, and convenience stores. A scratch-off ticket can pass through several hands if a customer asks a clerk to check it, scan it, or redeem it.
The Florida Lottery recommends signing the back of all tickets. Its winner’s guide also tells players to sign a ticket as soon as they buy it, keep it in a safe place, and use a self-check scanner at a retailer to validate it.
Customers who already buy scratch-offs should keep tickets in sight when asking a clerk to check them, use the official lottery app or self-check scanner when available, and keep any winning ticket until the prize is fully paid or the claim process is complete.
If a ticket is not returned, a prize amount looks wrong, or a clerk says a ticket lost when the customer believes otherwise, the customer should stop the transaction, ask for a manager, write down the store location and time, and contact the state lottery or local police if needed.