Local News

Clerk pleads guilty to trying to cash lottery ticket customer left behind

Carly Nunes, 24, of Lakeville, was sentenced to two years of probation with drug screening and counseling

February 11, 2024

1 minute to read

A former sales clerk pleaded guilty this week to a scheme to fraudulently cash a customer’s winning lottery ticket, according to officials.

Carly Nunes, 24, of Lakeville, pleaded guilty to the presentation of a false claim in Brockton Superior Court, according to WCVB Boston.

Nunes was originally charged with larceny from a building, presentation of a false claim, and witness intimidation, according to the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office.

Following her guilty plea, she was sentenced to two years of probation with drug screening and counseling, according to WCVB.

Joseph Reddem, 32, of Randolph, who is also facing charges relating to this incident, pleaded not guilty to one charge of attempted extortion last year.

On Jan. 17, 2023, a man came into a Lakeville liquor store, formerly called Savas Liquors, where Nunes worked, to buy lottery tickets and potato chips, according to officials.

Authorities said he left the store with the chips, however he left the tickets behind. His winning numbers for the Mega Millions lottery were called that night. The prize was $3 million.

The tickets were discovered, according to the DA’s office, when another customer bought a lottery ticket and handed the forgotten tickets to Nunes.

Reddem drove Nunes and her boyfriend to Massachusetts State Lottery Headquarters in Dorchester to cash the ticket on Jan. 19. He and Nunes argued in the lobby, sparking an investigation, according to officials.

Reddem allegedly made extortion demands during this argument, according to the DA’s office.

Officials found the true owner of the ticket, who was given his prize check.