Couple Finds Out Why You Don’t Steal From the Iowa Lottery

Don't mess with Iowa and its lottery tickets! To be fair, you shouldn't steal anything from anyone or anywhere. I didn't realize how serious stealing lottery tickets really is. Not only can you receive a fine of up to $10,245 but it's also considered a felony and could land you 5 years in prison. When I found out about this couple, it hit me that they'd committed Forgery and Fraud. It's not just theft.

According to Legis Iowa Code 99G.36

A person who, with intent to defraud, falsely makes, alters, forges, utters, passes, redeems, or counterfeits a lottery ticket or share or attempts to falsely make, alter, forge, utter, pass, redeem, or counterfeit a lottery ticket or share, or commits theft or attempts to commit theft of a lottery ticket or share, is guilty of a class “D” felony. Any person who influences or attempts to influence the winning of a prize through the use of coercion, fraud, deception, or tampering with lottery equipment or materials shall be guilty of a class “D” felony.

This California couple found out the hard way just how serious stealing a few lottery tickets can be.

Robert and Samantha are a couple from California who allegedly stole Iowa lottery scratch-off tickets from a convenience store in Fort Dodge, according to KCCI. Instead of celebrating the Christmas holiday with their friends and family, they decided to break into the store and use a crowbar to gain access to the lottery ticket kiosk.

After stealing the tickets and finding out they had winning tickets that added to $135, they decided to try and cash them in. They presented tickets marked as stolen during a burglary at a gas station in Sac City on December 29 and their run was over.

According to KCCI, Robert now faces 16 counts of lottery theft and a burglary charge while Samantha faces 17 lottery theft charges. If found guilty, they will be considered felons. All of that over a measly $135. Their lives are ruined for the foreseeable future. They could go out to eat together, basically, only twice for $135. I guess I hope they needed the money.

"I'll take, Things That Aren't Worth It for $135, Alex."