A Florida woman who worked as a gas station manager has been arrested after allegedly manipulating the state lottery system to her advantage.
Candace Dingman, 34, was taken into custody on Wednesday and charged with theft and filing a false lottery claim. Authorities say she abused her position as manager at a Circle K in Fruitland Park, near Orlando, to steal lottery tickets and claim winnings fraudulently.
According to the Florida Department of the Lottery, Dingman began activating books of lottery tickets in February 2023. Police allege that she activated 11 books and, shortly after, claimed a $1,000 prize. By August 2023, she was suspected of stealing 30 books in total, leading to a $36,000 loss for Circle K. The company alerted the lottery department in July, prompting an investigation.
Dingman was arrested and booked at the John E. Polk Correctional Facility, local reports confirm.
In a separate lottery story, California resident Rosemary Casarotti won a life-changing $1.2 billion Mega Millions jackpot on December 27, 2024. She purchased the ticket at Sunshine Food and Gas Circle K in Cottonwood, Shasta County.
Though Casarotti initially asked to remain anonymous, she later expressed her excitement to lottery officials. “I had the pleasure of speaking with Rosemary by phone following her win,” said California Lottery spokesperson Carolyn Beck. “She is incredibly grateful and thrilled to have won.”
Casarotti, now in her mid-60s, chose to take the lump sum payout, walking away with $571 million before taxes.
Her win also generated $89.5 million in funding for California public schools, and the store where she purchased the ticket received a $1 million bonus. “It’s an amazing feeling to know that our store played a part in making lottery history,” said store owner Ishar Gill.
Since launching in 1985, the California Lottery has contributed $46 billion to public education. In the 2023–2024 fiscal year alone, it raised $2 billion for schools.The next Mega Millions jackpot currently stands at $324 million.
