Berkeley County Woman Charged With Lottery Fraud

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A 23-year-old Berkeley County woman is facing multiple felony charges after authorities say she fraudulently cashed stolen lottery tickets at a Summerville business. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) announced that Victoria Grace Barnes was charged March 23 with two counts of intent to defraud involving counterfeit game tickets, along with breach of trust with fraudulent intent involving more than $2,000 but less than $10,000.

Why it matters

Lottery fraud is a serious crime that can undermine public trust in the lottery system and lead to significant financial losses. This case highlights the importance of lottery retailers and employees upholding the integrity of the games.

The details

According to SLED, the investigation was initiated at the request of the South Carolina Education Lottery. Arrest warrants allege that between Feb. 6 and Feb. 13, Barnes passed multiple stolen lottery tickets at Carolina Spirits and received cash payouts. Investigators say the tickets were stolen from the same store, where Barnes was employed at the time. Authorities allege she was identified by store management and captured on surveillance video during the transactions.

• On March 23, Barnes was charged.
• The alleged incidents occurred between February 6 and February 13.

What’s next

The case will be prosecuted by the 1st Circuit Solicitor's Office.