A United States Postal Service (USPS) letter carrier is facing multiple felony charges after investigators say 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 by the Florida Lottery Division of Security and the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General.
The Investigation Begins
The case started when a Florida Lottery player reported that a winning Pick 4 ticket she had mailed never arrived at its destination. According to police reports, an unidentified person went to a Publix in Tampa on June 15 and learned the ticket was a winner. However, retailers cannot award more than $600 in prize money; only a Florida Lottery office can do so.
Police say that same day, the lottery player sent the winning Pick 4 ticket by USPS to a loved one in South Florida. Days later, the sender reported that the ticket had not arrived at its destination. A Florida Lottery inspector traced the ticket and found it had been redeemed on June 19 at the Florida Lottery's Miami Lakes District Office.
Arrest and Charges
The person who cashed the ticket was later identified as Lockhart, a letter carrier with the USPS. After her arrest in Broward County by the Broward Sheriff’s Office on July 23, Lockhart admitted to stealing the ticket and redeeming it, according to investigators.
She is 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 in more than one judicial circuit, prosecutors will handle the cases separately.
Official Statements
Loren Lowers, Director of Security from the Florida Lottery, stated, "This ticket was worth $2,600." His department, along with the U.S. Postal Service and the Broward Sheriff's Office, initiated an investigation that led to Lockhart’s arrest.
Florida Lottery Secretary Reginald D. Dixon credited the Division of Security and its law enforcement partners for the outcome. "Our players deserve confidence that every Lottery prize is protected through strong security measures and diligent oversight," Dixon said. He commended the investigative work and thanked partners at the USPS Office of Inspector General and the Broward County Sheriff's Office.
When CBS News Miami contacted the USPS to determine if Lockhart remains employed, they were told she was hired in 2025, is still an employee, but is currently off duty. The Florida Lottery stated its Division of Security remains committed to protecting players and maintaining integrity through proactive investigations.
