Nebraska
Affidavit: Nebraska gas station manager stole winning scratch ticket worth $300,000
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – A Greeley man hit the jackpot last year but stole the winning scratch ticket, court documents say.
Jeremiah Ehlers was arrested Monday on suspicion of felony theft by deception, according to Lancaster County Jail booking records.
In an arrest warrant affidavit, a deputy with the Nebraska Department of Revenue said Ehlers claimed the top prize of a scratch ticket worth $300,000 on April 12, 2024.
Ehlers was paid out $213,000 after taxes, according to the affidavit.
On April 23, the company that owns the Greeley Rapid Stop — where Ehlers worked as a store manager — notified the Nebraska Lottery about a theft.
The company provided investigators with surveillance video that showed Ehlers playing the winning scratch ticket before paying for it, the affidavit alleges.
After the winning ticket was validated, Ehlers paid for it, which authorities said was a violation of state law.
Investigators put a freeze on Ehlers’ bank accounts for $128,769.31. Ehlers had spent the rest of the money on two vehicles, contractor services and payoffs to creditors, according to the affidavit.
An arrest warrant for Ehlers was issued on Jan. 3 and he was taken into custody on Monday.