South Carolina Man Charged with Fraud After Stealing Winning Lottery Tickets on Social Media
ORANGEBURG, S.C. — James Antonio Cheeseboro, a South Carolina man, has found himself in legal trouble after stealing lottery tickets from an unnamed individual on social media. His audacious scheme involved using the details from those tickets to create fake winning tickets and attempting to cash them.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) announced that Cheeseboro was charged with intent to defraud the South Carolina Lottery using counterfeit game tickets. The incident occurred on Thursday, July 18, 2024. Here’s how it unfolded:
- The Social Media Heist:
- Cheeseboro saw a post on social media that included winning lottery tickets. He “knowingly” took the activation codes for these tickets.
- He then provided the stolen codes to his manager at Quick Pantry, where he worked, who manually entered them into the South Carolina Lottery terminal.
- Redeeming the Stolen Winnings:
- Cheeseboro successfully redeemed the winnings, totaling $425, “for his gain without the permission or consent of the ticket purchaser.”
- Store security footage captured him in the act, and store management identified him.
- Legal Consequences:
- The defendant, James Antonio Cheeseboro, was booked into the Orangeburg County Detention Center.
- The case will be prosecuted by the 1st Circuit Solicitor’s Office.
This incident serves as a reminder that even in the digital age, crime can take unexpected forms. Social media platforms, while connecting people, can also provide opportunities for fraudulent activities. The South Carolina Lottery and law enforcement agencies remain vigilant in protecting the integrity of the games and ensuring that justice prevails.
