A man in Tennessee won a $1 million jackpot after buying winning tickets at a gas station in Murfreesboro. However, he only found out about his win when detectives contacted him to inform him that his winning ticket had been stolen. The winning tickets were purchased by the man at a Shell gas station, with one ticket winning $40 and the other winning $1 million. The clerk at the gas station, Meet Patel, was responsible for stealing the winning ticket and attempting to claim the prize.
The theft was caught on store video obtained by investigators of the Tennessee Lottery, showing Patel scanning the tickets. The customer had only scratched off the front bar code to check for winning tickets and asked Patel to confirm if they were winners. Patel, instead of checking the tickets and informing the customer of the win, threw the $1 million ticket in the trash. Later, he retrieved the winning ticket from the trash, celebrated in the store after confirming the win, and attempted to claim the prize at the Tennessee Lottery headquarters.
Players are required to claim prizes of $200,000 or more at the Tennessee Lottery headquarters, leading Patel to try to claim his winnings there. However, employees at the headquarters became suspicious during their questioning of Patel and decided to hold onto the ticket. Patel, aged 23, is currently being held on a charge of theft over $250,000 at the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center, with a bond set at $100,000. A hearing is scheduled for July 30 to address the situation and determine the appropriate next steps.
The sheriff’s office reviewed the video footage provided by the Tennessee Lottery to help identify the actual winner of the $1 million jackpot. They eventually located the man, who is a father, and informed him of his win. The man was completely unaware of his win until contacted by the authorities. This prize money is considered life-changing for the winner, who had no idea of his good fortune until he was reached by the authorities. The resolution of the case resulted in justice being served, with Patel facing legal consequences for his actions.
Authorities were able to piece together the sequence of events that led to the theft of the winning ticket and the subsequent attempt to claim the prize by Patel. By reviewing store video evidence and following up with the actual winner, they were able to uncover the truth behind the incident. The case serves as a cautionary tale about the potential for fraudulent behavior in lottery ticket sales and highlights the importance of proper handling and verification of winning tickets. The winning ticket was rightfully returned to its rightful owner, allowing them to make use of the life-changing prize money.
