A Florida gas station manager has been arrested for allegedly stealing thousands of dollars worth of lottery tickets and claiming a fraudulent prize.
Candace Dingman, 34, was taken into custody at the John E. Polk Correctional Facility after being accused of abusing her position at a Circle K in Fruitland Park, near Orlando. According to reports from WFTV and WFLA, she allegedly manipulated the lottery system over several months in 2023.
The Florida Department of the Lottery claims Dingman activated 11 books of lottery tickets in February 2023. Just days later, she reportedly redeemed a $1,000 winning ticket. In total, officials believe she stole 30 books of tickets between February and August that year.
In July 2023, Circle K’s corporate office discovered a $36,000 discrepancy tied to missing lottery books and reported the issue to lottery authorities. That investigation led to Dingman’s arrest and formal charges.
In a separate and unrelated case, Rosemary Casarotti of California recently made headlines after claiming a record-breaking $1.2 billion Mega Millions jackpot from a December 27, 2024, drawing. The winning ticket was purchased at a Circle K in Cottonwood, Shasta County.
Casarotti, in her mid-60s, chose to take a lump sum of $571 million rather than receive annual installments. Though she initially wished to remain private, she shared her gratitude through a statement provided by lottery officials.
“She is thrilled and thankful,” said Carolyn Beck, a spokesperson for the California Lottery. “And she’s happy to know the money helps support public education.”
Her win generated $89.5 million for California’s public schools and earned a $1 million bonus for the store where the ticket was purchased. Since its inception in 1985, the California Lottery has raised $46 billion for public education, with $2 billion generated in the 2023-2024 fiscal year alone.
The current Mega Millions jackpot stands at $324 million, continuing to attract hopeful players nationwide.
