BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. — A United States Postal Service employee from Broward County is facing multiple felony charges after investigators say she stole a winning Florida Lottery ticket from the mail and fraudulently claimed a $2,600 prize. The case stems from a joint investigation by the Florida Lottery’s Division of Security and the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General (OIG), which concluded with the arrest of 28-year-old Lakaysha Kenya Lockhart on July 23.
Investigation Reveals Stolen Ticket Scheme
The investigation began after a Florida Lottery player reported that a winning Pick 4 ticket she mailed through the U.S. Postal Service never arrived at its intended destination. According to an arrest report, the winning ticket was purchased at a Publix store in Tampa and held a value of $2,600. Because this prize amount exceeded the $599 maximum payout allowed for redemption at lottery retailers, terminal instructions required that the ticket be returned directly to the player.
Authorities stated that the winner subsequently mailed the ticket to a relative in Fort Lauderdale to assist with funeral expenses. However, the ticket was never successfully delivered. A Florida Lottery inspector determined that the winning ticket was instead redeemed on June 19 at the Florida Lottery’s Miami District Office by Lockhart.
Arrest and Criminal Charges
Investigators identified Lockhart as a USPS letter carrier assigned to the Oakland Park post office. According to her arrest report, she had no authorization from the ticket owner to redeem the prize. The joint operation conducted by Florida Lottery special agents and USPS OIG investigators led directly to Lockhart’s arrest.
Jail records indicate that Lockhart admitted after her arrest to stealing the winning lottery ticket and cashing it at the Miami District office. She is currently facing one count 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.
Official Statements and Legal Proceedings
Lakaysha Kenya Lockhart was not listed as an inmate in Broward County jail records as of Friday morning. A USPS spokesperson confirmed to Local 10 News that Lockhart joined the agency on April 21, 2025, remains employed by the Postal Service but is currently off duty.
Florida Lottery officials emphasized the importance of security measures in maintaining public trust. "Our players deserve confidence that every Lottery prize is protected through strong security measures and diligent oversight," Florida Lottery Secretary Reginald D. Dixon said in a statement. He commended his Division of Security for their investigative work and thanked partners at the USPS OIG and the Broward County Sheriff’s Office for their collaboration.
Because the offenses occurred across multiple judicial circuits, Florida Lottery officials stated that the cases will be prosecuted separately. The incident highlights ongoing efforts by state agencies to protect lottery integrity against internal theft schemes involving mail delivery systems.
