Published on: May 20, 2026, 11:35h.
Updated on: May 20, 2026, 11:35h.
- Two convenience store employees have been implicated in the theft of lottery scratch-off tickets
- The female suspects are facing serious felony theft accusations
- A conviction for this crime could result in up to five years in prison and a fine reaching $50,000
State-controlled lottery scratch-off games incorporate numerous security protocols designed to prevent theft and fraudulent activities. However, this does not deter wrongdoers from attempting to exploit the system.
Attempting to defraud a lottery is an incredibly reckless endeavor. The latest incident highlights a case in South Carolina where law enforcement claims a pair attempted to outsmart the state lottery by stealing scratch-off tickets from their jobs.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) has formally charged Darlene Helms, 67, and Yoisha Renee Merrell Chambers, 47, with Intent to Defraud and Counterfeit Game Tickets. The two individuals are facing trial in Chesterfield County, where the felony charge could lead to a five-year prison sentence and/or fines amounting to $50,000.
Surveillance Footage Reveals Lottery Theft
The state’s investigative law enforcement agency claims that Helms and Merrell Chambers pilfered numerous South Carolina Education Lottery tickets while employed at the In & Out Mini Mart, located at 1210 W. McGregor St. in Pageland.
According to arrest warrants, it is alleged that the pair stole hundreds of scratch-off lottery tickets between March 11 and 18 from the In & Out Mini Market and went on to redeem 369 of those tickets, amassing a total of $11,478 in winnings.
These activities were documented through video surveillance. The affiant along with other witnesses can corroborate this, as noted by law enforcement officer Will Duncan.
Helms and Merrell Chambers were apprehended on May 14. Following their booking at the Chesterfield County Detention Center, a local judge permitted their release on personal recognizance bonds.
The Foolishness of Cheating the Lottery
Before lottery scratch-off tickets can be sold, South Carolina retailers are required to scan the ticket packs through their lottery terminals, marking them as “received.” Subsequently, they must “activate” the tickets by scanning the barcode and loading them into a dispenser.
Retailers are mandated to keep detailed logs of game packs and ticket numbers, including the starting and ending ticket numbers, as well as the volume of tickets sold during each shift.
SLED did not specify whether Helms and Merrell Chambers attempted to cover up their theft by logging the tickets as sold. However, the owners of the In & Out Mini Mart likely would have noticed the significant financial discrepancies resulting from the fraudulent sales.
The South Carolina Education Lottery advises that retailers should never confront an individual or employee suspected of stealing lottery tickets. Instead, they recommend reporting any suspicious activities to the lottery’s Stolen/Missing/Defective Ticket Hotline at 1-866-269-5668.