A United States Postal Service (USPS) employee was arrested in Florida after being accused of stealing a winning Florida Lottery ticket that had been mailed and later claiming the prize, state authorities reported.

The investigation was developed jointly by the Florida Lottery Security Division and the Office of the Inspector General of the United States Postal Service, after a player reported that the winning ticket she had sent by mail never arrived at its destination.

The investigation led to the USPS

According to the Florida Lottery, investigators determined that the Pick 4 game ticket, with a prize of $2,600, was redeemed on July 19 at a lottery office in Miami.

The person who claimed the award was identified as Lakaysha Lockhart, who was later recognized as an employee of the United States Postal Service.

Authorities arrested Lockhart on July 23.

According to the Florida Lottery, after his arrest Lockhart admitted to having stolen the winning ticket and cashing in the prize.

As a result of the investigation, he faces several charges including grand theft, trafficking in stolen property, filing a false claim to obtain payment, two counts of unlawful use of a two-way communication device, and theft of mail.

Authorities highlight the security of the lottery system

The secretary of the Florida Lottery, Reginald D. Dixon, assured that the institution maintains strict controls to protect players.

“Our players deserve the confidence that every lottery prize is protected by strong security measures and rigorous oversight,” he said in a statement.

The Florida Lottery also reiterated that revenue earned from ticket sales contributes to funding public education in the state.

“Every ticket purchased supports education in Florida and we remain committed to ensuring players participate with confidence that the integrity of our games is our top priority,” the institution said in a statement sent to ABC News.

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