Antioch man pleads responsible in lottery ticket theft scheme

MARTINEZ – The chief of a retail theft ring that stole practically $100,000 value of California State Lottery Scratchers tickets from shops in seven Northern California counties pleaded responsible to 9 felony prices Friday, in keeping with East Bay prosecutors.

Ryan Anderson, 32, of Antioch, will serve three years in state jail below the phrases of the plea deal, the Contra Costa County District Legal professional’s Workplace mentioned in an announcement. He should additionally admit probation violations and pay full restitution to the state lottery.

In 2022, state lottery investigators recognized Anderson because the chief of a bunch answerable for 71 separate thefts of lottery tickets from 65 comfort and grocery shops in Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Solano and Stainslaus counties between March 27 and Oct. 25 of that yr, in keeping with prosecutors.

The district legal professional’s workplace mentioned the tickets have been valued at $95,565 and contained $59,105 in prize cash.

The thefts ended after Contra Costa prosecutors have been capable of hold Anderson in custody.

At a courtroom listening to in Martinez, the state lottery mentioned the thefts damage each it and the “small independently owned companies that depend on the sale of lottery video games to thrive.” As well as, gamers misplaced out on the chance to win and public faculty college students have been “robbed of further funds to assist vital packages,” the lottery mentioned.

Anderson introduced a letter of apology to his victims, stating partly that he desires to make an “sincere residing” and “pay again any cash (that) is owed,” in keeping with prosecutors.

The district legal professional’s workplace mentioned a state regulation allowed it to prosecute Anderson for all of his crimes, though they occurred in a number of counties.