A Florida couple, Dakota Jones, 32, and Kira Enders, 36, are facing multiple criminal charges for allegedly attempting to declare themselves the winners of a $1 million lottery with a fake ticket. The incident occurred in mid-March, when Enders submitted a lottery scratch-off ticket she claimed was worth $1 million to the Florida Lottery office in Pensacola. However, the ticket was not a winning ticket and displayed obvious alterations, including being ripped horizontally and taped together crudely.
Lottery officials immediately determined it to be a non-winner, and law enforcement officials stated that the crime seemed too plain and obvious.
When questioned on how they came across the winning ticket, Jones and Enders each told entirely different accounts. They were arrested on warrants and booked into the Escambia County Jail this month. Enders and Jones were released on a $20,000 and $17,500 bond, respectively, and are both due to return to court in mid-May.
This incident highlights the importance of being aware of the potential for fraud when playing the lottery. Lottery officials encourage players to carefully check their tickets for any signs of tampering or alteration and to report any suspected fraud to the appropriate authorities.
