Published on: October 10, 2025, 01:54h.
Updated on: October 10, 2025, 01:54h.
- Man from Florida charged with swindling $7,000 in lottery tickets
- Suspect reportedly attempted to cash stolen tickets at same retail location
- Further allegedly robbed a 7-Eleven, according to police reports
In yet another “Florida man” saga, authorities describe a bizarre incident where a man allegedly swipes thousands worth of scratch-off lottery tickets and then tries to redeem them at the very establishment he robbed.
As reported by the St. Petersburg Police Department, 43-year-old Justin Farley entered a Circle K around 8:30 p.m. on May 5, leaving with around $7,000 in scratch-off tickets hidden under his arm. Surveillance footage captured him exiting without making a purchase.
Things took an odd turn when Farley returned shortly afterward to attempt cashing in his winnings at the same Circle K and a nearby 7-Eleven, as detailed in a police report.
His efforts were unsuccessful, primarily due to the straightforward nature of barcode scanning.
Failed Redemption Attempt
According to law enforcement, the situation escalated after Farley’s lottery attempts. Near midnight, he entered a 7-Eleven on 4th Street North, brandished what appeared to be a firearm, demanded cash and cigarettes, and forced the clerk into a storage area before fleeing with approximately $120 and some Newports.
With help from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, investigators traced his escape vehicle—registered to Farley—through surveillance footage and license plate records. A store clerk later identified him as the thief.
For the next two weeks, detectives observed Farley, noting that he consistently wore the same shoes, jeans, and hat from the time of the Circle K burglary, as stated in the arrest affidavit.
Facing Serious Charges
Farley was apprehended on May 23 and charged with grand theft and burglary in connection with the Circle K incident.
He also faces federal indictments under the Hobbs Act, associated with robberies impacting interstate commerce. If convicted, this charge alone could result in up to 20 years in prison.
During a police interview, Farley confessed to taking both the tickets and the cash, claiming he “needed money.”
His criminal history spans over 20 years, detailed in the affidavit, including various felony convictions for the sale of cocaine, controlled substance possession, and two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, along with oxycodone possession.