2 Charged in Lottery Theft
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SACRAMENTO — State officials accused a temporary lottery employee and her cousin of grand theft, conspiracy to commit grand theft and embezzlement today, claiming the worker took a player’s $5,000 lottery ticket and gave it to the cousin to cash.
Sharyn Jefferson, 38, and her cousin, Gerry O’Neill, 34, both of Sacramento, were in custody on the allegations, said Lew Ritter, security chief for the state lottery. Ritter said Jefferson told authorities that she found the ticket, completed a claim form, then forged O’Neill’s name to the document and smuggled the claim into lottery headquarters. Ritter said Jefferson “then used an elaborate scheme to enter the phony claim form and forged ticket for processing” to allow O’Neill to obtain the prize. The ticket apparently belonged to Victor Shay of Gardena, officials said.
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