A United States Postal Service (USPS) letter carrier is facing multiple felony charges after investigators determined she stole a winning Florida Lottery ticket from the mail and cashed it in herself. Lekaysha Lockhart, 28, was arrested on July 23 following a joint investigation conducted by the Florida Lottery Division of Security and the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General. The case originated when a lottery player reported that a winning Pick 4 ticket she had mailed never arrived at its intended destination.
Investigation Details
The incident began on June 15, when an unidentified individual visited a Publix in Tampa and learned the ticket was a winner. Because retailers cannot award more than $600 in prize money, only a Florida Lottery office can process larger payouts. Police reports indicate that the same day, the lottery player sent the winning ticket via USPS to a loved one in South Florida. Days later, the sender reported the package had not arrived.
A Florida Lottery inspector traced the missing ticket and discovered it had been redeemed on June 19 at the Miami Lakes District Office of the Florida Lottery. The individual who cashed the check was identified as Lockhart, a letter carrier with the USPS. Following her arrest in Broward County by the Broward Sheriff's Office, investigators stated that Lockhart admitted to stealing the ticket and redeeming it.
Legal Charges and Prosecution
Lockhart is now charged with 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. Because the alleged offenses occurred across more than one judicial circuit, prosecutors will handle the cases separately.
Loren Lowers, Director of Security from the Florida Lottery, emphasized the value of the stolen prize in an official statement: "This ticket was worth $2,600." His department collaborated with the U.S. Postal Service and the Broward Sheriff's Office to initiate the investigation that led to Lockhart’s arrest.
Official Statements
Florida Lottery Secretary Reginald D. Dixon credited the Division of Security and its law enforcement partners for the resolution. "Our players deserve confidence that every Lottery prize is protected through strong security measures and diligent oversight," Dixon said in a press release. He further commended the investigative work of his division and thanked partners at the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General and the Broward County Sheriff's Office for their collaboration.
The Florida Lottery stated that its Division of Security remains committed to protecting players through proactive investigations and partnerships with law enforcement agencies. CBS News Miami contacted the USPS regarding Lockhart’s employment status; officials confirmed she was hired in 2025, remains employed, but is currently off duty pending legal proceedings.
