A 33-year-old man thought he had hit the jackpot with a Pick 3 lottery ticket worth $780.
Too bad it belonged to someone else — his co-worker.
William Andre Flood of Newport News, is accused of stealing the lottery ticket from his female co-worker and now faces a charge of lottery violation, according to Stephanie Williams, spokeswoman for James City County Police.
Police arrested Flood on May 18 following a near year-long investigation that began last July, Williams said.
“The warrant was taken out in February. It’s not unusual for investigations to take several months,” she said.
According to a police report, a woman who works at Colonial Manor Senior Living Facility on Pocahontas Trail contacted James City County Police Department last July about a stolen lottery ticket.
It’s unclear where the woman purchased the ticket, but the drawing for the lottery was on July 6.
The woman told responding officers she had purchased two tickets in a Pick 3 game and had won $780. The woman stated she kept her lottery ticket in her purse while she was at work and had left the purse in a “break room,” Williams said.
The woman also told police she told co-workers she won the lottery.
Police say another employee, Flood, when questioned, told officers that he had not taken the ticket nor entered the break room.
Flood allegedly gave conflicting statements throughout the investigation, Williams said.
The investigation would reveal that Flood had been in the break room, where he was not supposed to be, as he works in another area of the building.
After the investigation, the woman was able to receive her winnings, despite the ticket having never been cashed in, Williams said.
Lottery tickets in drawing games expire 180 days after the drawing, John Hagerty, a spokesman for the Virginia Lottery said in an email.
Hagerty confirmed that the woman in this case did receive her proper winnings well after 180 days had passed.
Agency regulation allows the Lottery to make exceptions in certain cases, such as when criminal activity is being investigated, he said.
In this case, a security investigator with the Virginia Lottery placed a hold on the two tickets in question when the player reported them stolen within the 180 days, Hagerty said.
After the Lottery’s Security Department investigation with area police departments, the player was paid and an arrest made.
“We work closely with local police to investigate, and prosecute when appropriate,” Hagerty said. “Fraud, theft, or other criminal activity regarding lottery tickets are serious offenses with stiff penalties.”
Flood was released on bail. He is expected to appear in Williamsburg-James City County Court June 13.
