A United States Postal Service (USPS) employee in South Florida has been arrested for allegedly pilfering a Florida Lottery winning ticket from the mail and cashing it for herself, as reported by NBC 6.
Lekaysha Lockhart, a 28-year-old resident of Hollywood, was apprehended on July 23 following a joint investigation by the Florida Lottery’s Division of Security and the USPS Office of Inspector General.
Lockhart faces several charges, including grand theft, dealing in stolen property, petty theft, two counts of unlawful use of a communication device to facilitate a felony, filing a false claim, and obtaining mail by fraud or deception.
Due to the alleged crimes occurring across multiple judicial circuits, the cases will be prosecuted separately.
Unraveling the Theft
The incident began on June 15, when a player discovered at a Tampa Publix that her Pick 4 lottery ticket had won $2,600. Since Florida retailers cannot pay prizes exceeding $600, she mailed the ticket to a relative in South Florida for redemption at a lottery office.
However, the ticket never reached its intended destination. A Florida Lottery inspector tracked the ticket and found it was cashed on June 19 at the Miami Lakes District Office. Lockhart, an active USPS mail carrier, was identified as the person who submitted the ticket.
Upon her arrest, Lockhart confessed to investigators that she had taken the ticket from the mail she handled on her route and cashed it herself.
Lockhart's Employment Status
As reported by CBS News Miami, Lockhart, hired by the USPS in 2025, remains listed as an employee but is currently out of service.
The case was coordinated among the Florida Lottery, the USPS Office of Inspector General, and the Broward County Sheriff’s Office. The Director of Security at the Florida Lottery, Loren Lowers, confirmed the ticket's worth: "This ticket was valued at $2,600."
Postal Theft: A Persistent Issue
Mail theft is a federal offense in the United States, and USPS employees are subject to investigations by the Office of Inspector General, which has authority over crimes committed by postal staff. South Florida has seen similar cases in recent years. In April 2026, a Cuban couple was arrested for mail theft in homes, and in January 2024, another Miami couple was detained for stealing mailboxes.
The Lockhart case is particularly notable because the accused was an active employee who stole directly from the mail under her care.
Florida Lottery's Response
Reginald D. Dixon, Secretary of the Florida Lottery, issued a statement commending the agencies involved in resolving the case. "Our players deserve the assurance that every Lottery prize is safeguarded through robust security measures and diligent oversight," Dixon stated.
"I commend our Division of Security for their outstanding investigative work and thank our partners at the Postal Service Inspector General’s Office and the Broward County Sheriff’s Office for their collaboration in protecting the integrity of the Florida Lottery games."
The Florida Lottery allows prizes up to $250,000 to be claimed via mail, a convenient option that also places the risk of mailing on the player, as the agency warns in its claim guidelines.
Understanding the Legal Implications of Mail Theft
What are the legal consequences for mail theft?
Mail theft is a federal crime in the United States, punishable by fines and imprisonment. The USPS Office of Inspector General investigates these offenses, especially when committed by postal employees.
How does the Florida Lottery handle winning ticket claims?
The Florida Lottery allows winners to claim prizes up to $250,000 by mail. However, the responsibility for the safe delivery of the ticket lies with the player, as noted in their claim guidelines.