A LOTTERY winner was arrested after her workplace accused her of filing a false lottery charge of $1,000.
Candace Dingman, 34, allegedly used her role as a manager of a Circle K to abuse the lottery system in her favor.
Dingman manages the Fruitland Park, Florida, gas station outside Orlando, local ABC affiliate WFTV reported.
The Florida Department of the Lottery alleges that the manager stole 30 lottery books starting in February 2023.
Around that time, Dingman is suspected to have activated 11 lottery ticket books.
Police reported that a few days after activating the books, she claimed a winning ticket of $1,000.
Circle K’s corporate office first caught her scheme in July 2023, notifying the lottery department of a $36,000 charge and 30 missing books.
Dingman is accused of stealing books between February and August 2023.
She was arrested at the John E. Polk Correctional Facility on Wednesday, local NBC affiliate WFLA reported.
MORE LOTTERY WINNERS
In December, Rosemary Casarotti struck gold by winning a $1.2 billion Mega Millions jackpot, but she ultimately only took home half of that impressive sum.
On December 27, 2024, Casarotti’s life changed when she bought a ticket at Sunshine Food and Gas Circle K in Cottonwood, Shasta County, California.
She initially requested to stay private, but told lottery officials she was thrilled about the news.
“I had the pleasure of speaking with Rosemary by phone following her win,” said California Lottery spokesperson Carolyn Beck.
“I can tell you with certainty how grateful she is and how happy she is to have won this money and to have supported public schools.”
Upon reaching her mid-60s, Casarotti found herself in the familiar predicament that confronts all lottery winners: opt for a lump sum payment of half the winnings or spread the full amount over several years?
The California woman chose the former, leaving her with total winnings of $571 million.
Casarotti’s winnings not only benefits her, but also the California public school system and the gas station she bought the ticket from.
According to the lottery’s official website, since its launch in 1985, the California Lottery has contributed a whopping $46 billion to support the public education system.
Top lottery winners in the US
Millions dream of winning the lottery and finding fame and fortune. These are the biggest winners in US lottery history.
- Edwin Castro – $2.04 billion, Powerball, Nov. 8, 2022, in California.
- Theodorus Struyck – $1.765 billion, Powerball, Oct. 11, 2023, in California.
- Unknown winner – $1.602 billion, Mega Millions, Aug. 8, 2023, in Florida.
- Marvin and Mae Acosta from Los Angeles, California, John and Lisa Robinson from Munford, Tennessee, and Maureen Smith and David Kaltschmidt from Melbourne Beach, Florida – $1.586 billion, Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016.
- Unknown winner – $1.537 billion, Mega Millions, Oct. 23, 2018, from South Carolina.
- Unknown winner – he sued the mother of his child to keep his identity hidden – $1.348 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 13, 2023, from Maine.
- Unknown winner – $1.337 billion, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022, from Illinois.
- Cheng and Duanpen Saephan, and Laiza Liem Chao – $1.326 billion, Powerball, April 7, 2024, from Oregon.
- Yanira Alvarez – $1.08 billion Powerball, July 19, 2023 in California.
- Wolverine FLL Lottery Club – $1.05 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 22, 2021, from Michigan.
- Unknown winner – $842.4 million Powerball, Jan. 1, 2024, from Michigan.
In the 2023-2024 year, the lottery raised a total of $2 billion for the school system.
Her win earned the school system a total of $89.5 million, and rewarded the service station $1 million.
“It’s an amazing feeling to know that our store played a part in making lottery history,” said store owner Ishar Gill at a press conference.
The Mega Millions next jackpot currently sits at $324 million.
