Store Clerk Pleads 'Not Guilty' In Lottery Ticket Theft Case

Feb 3, 2004, 5:42 am (5 comments)

Massachusetts Lottery

A convenience store clerk who allegedly stole a woman's $20,000 lottery ticket is denying the charge.

Antoine Reiche pleaded not guilty Monday at his arraignment on a charge of larceny over $250.

On Jan. 19, Erika Schmitt, 18, told police that she bought a $2 lottery ticket from the Westboro convenience store where Reiche worked, scratched off 10 stars and discovered she was the jackpot winner.

When she tried to redeem it, Reiche allegedly grabbed the ticket and told her she had scratched off only six stars, which merited a $100.

He refused to give back the winning ticket back to Schmitt. The UMass freshmen went immediately to police. The ticket has not been recovered or turned in for the prize.

Reiche was arrested on Jan. 22. He was supposed to be arraigned the next day, but the arraignment was postponed twice.

AP

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fja's avatarfja

If he turns the ticket in for a prize he's busted.  If he gives her back the ticket he's busted.  He probably didnt even have a ticket worth $100 in the drawer.  If he wants to plead innocent that ticket can never surface again.

luckycat's avatarluckycat

this is the same news I heard and posted last week also.THey said on news that they can prove the tickett came from the box as it and the ticket had a code. My comment last week was also in reference to interceptor, remarks as to codes and tickets. he might be right somwhat . so much scaming on lottery today,guess if there is a way a crook will find it.  my opinion is that they do know on tickets and coded preprinted where and how much the win is.

thanks for info todd

Calscorp's avatarCalscorp

I agree. They have to know which lot of tickets has big winners in it and where it goes. He probably thought the woman was a fool and wouldn't turn him in. I hope they can prove he did it. If it was really only a hundred dollars; then why wouldn't he show it to her?  I bet he already turned it in if it was the larger amount.

Todd's avatarTodd

luckycat:

This is not the same news - he was just arraigned yesterday (Monday) and pleaded not guilty.  It is a continuation of the story which began last week.

Littleoldlady's avatarLittleoldlady

They should show him the rest of their bag of tricks..the lotteries have so many ways of checking up on that ticket..I wonder if he will try to pay someone to cash the ticket for him and they split the proceeds..the lottery commission already knows the serial number of the ticket and what lot it was in..I hope his butt fries...but good..I wonder if he is being arraigned for petty theft or major theft..I thought anything over $1,000 was grand larceny which is a felony.

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