Three people in South Carolina have been arrested in connection with separate lottery fraud investigations, just as the Powerball jackpot nears record territory. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) announced the arrests on Friday, involving two men and one woman accused of defrauding the state’s lottery system.
The first arrest involved Luke Michael Nickles, who was taken into custody on September 3. Investigators say Nickles, while working at Spinx #218 in Boiling Springs, stole several South Carolina Education Lottery tickets between August 9 and August 11. He then allegedly attempted to cash in the tickets, actions that were reportedly captured on surveillance footage. He was charged with intent to defraud using counterfeit game tickets and booked into the Spartanburg County Detention Center. His case is being prosecuted by the Seventh Circuit Solicitor’s Office.
In a separate case, Franklin Alfonso Grant Jr., 28, was arrested on August 22 in Charleston County. According to authorities, Grant used images of two lottery tickets—obtained without the rightful owner’s consent—and redeemed them at Dorchester Mini Mart in North Charleston on June 26, receiving $790 in cash prizes. He was booked into the Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center and is being prosecuted by the Ninth Circuit Solicitor’s Office.
The third arrest involved Alexandria Renee Talley, 32, in Dorchester County. She was charged on August 25 with intent to defraud and attempt to influence a game by coercion. Investigators allege that, while employed at Carter’s Fast Stop #3 in Ridgeville, Talley stole lottery tickets and attempted to redeem them between July 14 and July 17. Surveillance footage reportedly captured the incidents. She was taken to the Dorchester County Detention Center and is being prosecuted by the First Circuit Solicitor’s Office.
Law enforcement officials are urging the public to be cautious as lottery-related fraud tends to increase during periods of high jackpot interest.
