A Tennessee gas station clerk, Meer Patel, has been arrested for allegedly stealing a $1 million winning lottery ticket from a customer. The incident happened at a Shell station in Murfreesboro, where the customer purchased two $20 Diamond and Gold lottery tickets. The customer, seeking to save time, scratched off the front bar code and asked Patel to check for winnings.

Patel handed the customer $40 for one ticket and discarded the other, claiming it was not a winner. However, security footage later revealed Patel retrieving the discarded ticket and pocketing it. The video also showed him celebrating upon discovering it was worth $1 million.

Suspicion arose when Patel attempted to cash the winning ticket, prompting lottery officials to launch an investigation. They contacted the rightful ticket owner, who was initially skeptical but eventually visited the Tennessee Lottery office to claim his prize.

Lt. Detective Steve Craig commented, “The customer never knew he was the winner until we made contact with him. This is life-changing money.”

Patel now faces charges of theft of over $250,000, classified as a Class A felony. He has been booked into the Rutherford County Jail. The sheriff’s department emphasized the importance of verifying lottery tickets personally to avoid falling victim to similar scams.

This incident highlights the need for vigilance when dealing with lottery tickets and trusting store clerks. Always verify your tickets independently to ensure you do not miss out on potential winnings.