Florida
Florida woman arrested after allegedly squatting in home and selling owner’s appliances
Authorities arrested a woman at a home near The Villages after the homeowner told deputies the woman had been staying there without permission and sold a washer and dryer from the residence, according to an arrest affidavit.
Candice Meshelle Mackey, 40, was charged with grand theft and dealing in stolen property after investigators said a neighbor told them he bought the washer-and-dryer set from her for $150 and another witness identified the appliances as ones previously kept inside the home.
According to an arrest affidavit from the Marion County Sheriff’s Department, the homeowner, identified as Denise Lombardi, told police that the appliance came with the home and belonged to the residence.
She also claimed that Mackey was a squatter and had repeatedly been told to leave, but continued to stay at the home. The single family home, in Summerfield, is near The Villages, a sprawling 55+ housing community in Central Florida.
The owner told police, according to the affidavit, that she had gone to the residence a couple of months ago and realized Mackey had been squatting there.
Lombardi’s nephew, identified as James, who was paying rent at the home, invited Mackey to stay with him without permission.
Despite being ordered from the house in December, she still had not left and was served a notice to vacate by March 31.
A neighbor first alerted the homeowner after he bought a Frigidaire washer and dryer that Mackey was selling for $150.
The buyer later told law enforcement that his washer and dryer stopped working, so when he noticed Mackey moving out, he bought what he thought was hers for $150. Once he found out the set did not belong to her, he tried to return it and get his money back without success, the report said.
Mackey told deputies she had purchased the appliances after being released from jail, but investigators said she gave conflicting accounts of when she bought them and could not provide proof they were hers.
She was arrested on charges of grand theft, a property value of $750 to $5,000, and dealing in stolen property. She was booked in the Marion County Jail and released after posting $5,000 bond.
Will a $2 Florida Lotto ticket make someone a millionaire this week? As they say in the lottery business, “it could happen to you.”
After one lucky ticket from a BJ’s Wholesale Club Liquors in Clermont, Florida, matched all six numbers in the Wednesday, Feb. 4, Florida Lotto drawing for $21.5 million, the jackpot reset.
The 27th rollover occurred after no one matched all six numbers in the Saturday, May 9, Florida Lotto drawing. That means the grand prize increased to $23.5 million for Wednesday, May 13.
Check this story after 11:15 p.m. ET tonight to see the winning numbers for the Florida Lotto drawing on Wednesday, May 13.
In case you’re wondering, Saturday’s winning numbers were 39-21-20-34-6-52. Double Play numbers were 17-1-41-29-22-43.
Below is what to know about lottery odds, how long to claim the cash option if you bought a ticket in Florida, and what happens to unclaimed prize money, according to the Florida Lottery.
Winning Florida Lotto numbers for Wednesday, May 13, 2026?
Florida Lotto drawings are at 11:15 p.m. ET every Wednesday and Saturday, including holidays.
Check this story after 11:15 p.m. ET tonight to see the winning numbers for the Florida Lotto drawing on Wednesday, May 13.
How do you play the Florida Lotto?
According to Florida Lottery game rules, Florida Lotto players pick 6 numbers between 1 and 53 or select a Quick Pick ticket. There are prizes for matching three to six numbers. Players who match two of 6 winning Florida Lotto numbers get a free ticket.
The Florida Lottery site states game add-ons include Double Play for $1, a bonus drawing where players could win up to $250,000 using the same numbers (Double Play drawings are held immediately after Florida Lotto drawings). Another Florida Lotto game add-on is EZmatch for $1 per play. If players match any EZmatch number to their Florida Lotto numbers, they instantly win that prize.
Tickets start at $2. Good luck!
When was the last Florida Lotto won? How long has the jackpot rolled over?
The Florida Lotto jackpot was last won on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026. BJ’s Wholesale Club Liquors on South Highway 27 in Clermont, Florida, sold the winning Quick Pick ticket worth $21.5 million.
The new lottery jackpot reset at $1 million for the drawing on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. Below is a recap of lottery drawings for the latest streak.
- Wednesday, May 13: $23.5 million
- Saturday, May 9: $22.25 million
- Wednesday, May 6: $21.25 million
- Saturday, May 2: $20.25 million
- Wednesday, April 29: $19 million
- Saturday, April 25: $18 million
- Wednesday, April 22: $17 million
- Saturday, April 18: $16 million
- Wednesday, April 15, Tax Day: $15.25 million
- Saturday, April 11: $14.50 million
- Wednesday, April 8: $13.75 million
- Saturday, April 4: $12.75 million
- Wednesday, April 1, or April Fool’s Day: $12 million
- Saturday, March 28: $11.25 million
- Wednesday, March 25: $10.25 million
- Saturday, March 21: $9.25 million
- Wednesday, March 18: $8.25 million
- Saturday, March 14, Pi Day: $7.50 million
- Wednesday, March 11: $7 million
- Saturday, March 7: $6.75 million
- Wednesday, March 4: $6 million
- Saturday, Feb. 28: $5 million
- Wednesday, Feb. 25: $4 million
- Saturday, Feb. 21: $3.25 million
- Wednesday, Feb. 18: $2.50 million
- Saturday, Feb. 14, or Valentine’s Day: $1.75 million
- Wednesday, Feb. 11: $1.25 million
- Saturday, Feb. 7: $1 million
When is the next Florida Lotto drawing? What are the odds, chances of winning Florida Lotto lottery?
Florida Lotto drawings are held at 11:15 p.m. ET on Wednesdays and Saturdays, including holidays. According to floridalottery.com, players have a 1 in 22,957,480 chance to match all six numbers whether the jackpot is $1 million or $36 million. Prizes range from $2 to the grand prize jackpot, which varies.
The next Florida Lotto drawing will be on Saturday, May 16.
How long do you have to cash in a Florida Lottery ticket?
Prizes for Florida Lottery must be claimed within 180 days (six months) from the date of the drawing. To claim a single-payment cash option, a winner has within the first 60 days after the applicable draw date to claim it.
Does the Florida Lottery reveal lottery winners? Can you stay anonymous if you win lottery in Florida?
According to Florida Lottery’s website, winners cannot remain anonymous: “Florida law mandates that the Florida Lottery provide records containing information such as the winner’s name, city of residence; game won, date won, and amount won to any third party who requests the information.”
However, the site states, the “names of lottery winners claiming prizes of $250,000 or greater will be temporarily exempt from public disclosure for 90 days from the date the prize is claimed, unless otherwise waived by the winner.”
Does Walmart sell lottery tickets? Where to buy lottery tickets in Florida
In Florida, most gas stations and some grocery stores sell lottery tickets. It’s harder to find a gas station that doesn’t sell Powerball, Mega Millions, Florida Lottery and scratch-off tickets than it is to find one that does.
Publix also sells lottery tickets and is known for selling many winning tickets. A lesser-known location is Walmart. Whether the Walmart location closest to you sells lottery tickets depends on your state and the store. Many Walmart locations in Florida have self-service lottery ticket vending machines or sell lottery tickets at the customer service desk.
You can use the “Where to Play” search tool on the Florida Lottery website to find a grocery store or gas station near you that sells lottery tickets.
(This story will be updated to include new information.)
Lianna Norman and Jennifer Sangalang are trending reporters for the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida, covering pop culture, lotteries, rocket launches, Florida wildlife, breaking news and more. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://floridatoday.com/newsletters.
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)— Florida has a new state record after a blue catfish was caught in the Suwannee River.
The 73.6-pound blue catfish is now the official state record, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission biologists.
Blue catfish were originally found in the Escambia and Yellow rivers in northwest Florida, but they can also be found in the Apalachicola and Suwannee rivers.
According to FWC, blues occur in big rivers and in the lower reaches of major tributaries. The catfish prefer clearer, swifter water than other catfish, and can usually be found over sand, gravel, or rock bottoms.
Young blue catfish eat aquatic insects and small fish, but larger blue catfish eat crayfish, mussels, and other fish.
The previous state record was 69.5 pounds.
Trooper, the dog abandoned amid Hurricane Milton, now at foster home
Trooper has a new beginning at his foster home, committed to helping him recover with an open yard to play and cuddles all day.
Gov. Ron DeSantis on May 12 signed a pair of bills aimed at shielding pets and animals from acts of cruelty.
One bill (HB 559) increases penalties for animal cruelty by creating new third-degree felony offenses for adults who involve minors in animal fighting, baiting or in sexual offenses. It also requires children who commit violations to undergo psychological evaluations and, if recommended, treatment.
Also, penalties for violations of city or county animal control and cruelty ordinances are increased, from $500 in current law to $2,500 for a first offense, $5,000 for a second offense and $7,500 for a third offense in the new law. The law takes effect Oct. 1.
Another measure (SB 1004) puts new rules and the sale of pets, including financing terms. It requires pet dealers to disclose financing terms to consumers and allows buyers to end financing agreements if a pet has an illness or disease.
Dealers must also disclose veterinarian records and medical history and provide written notice of rights to potential buyers.
There is also a requirement for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to keep a public website listing people convicted of animal cruelty, including their aliases, date of birth, race, counties of conviction, charges, case numbers, dispositions and descriptions of any identifying marks and tattoos.
The measure takes effect July 1, but the database isn’t required to be in place until Jan. 1, 2027.
DeSantis signed the bills at Big Dog Ranch Rescue, a dog rescue facility in Loxahatchee, where he held a press conference last year pledging to fight for the animal cruelty policies.
Both bills passed the Legislature unanimously during the regular session. DeSantis said the bills add to the state’s “momentum” of heightened protections for pets and animals.
“Florida has become a leader in protecting animals and holding accountable those who harm them,” DeSantis said in a released statement. “Today, we built on that record with new legislation to strengthen penalties for animal abuse and improve consumer protections for pet owners.”
Another provision in SB 1004 requires breeders and pet dealers to adopt “best management practices” related to minimum standards of care regarding feeding, housing, health, selling and transferring and recordkeeping, which will be developed by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR).
Specifically, DBPR must post on its website “guidance for the public about how to identify the breeders that are following best management practices and provide a checklist to use when purchasing an animal.”
“This is about giving people the tools they need to make informed decisions and take action when something isn’t right,” DBPR Secretary Melanie Griffin said.
©2026 The News Service of Florida. All rights reserved.
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