A Tennessee gas station clerk has been accused of attempting to claim a customer’s $1 million lottery prize after allegedly withholding the winning ticket during a transaction.
According to the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office, 23-year-old Meer Patel of Murfreesboro was arrested and charged with theft involving property valued above $250,000.
Investigators say the incident began when a customer from Antioch purchased two scratch-off lottery tickets at a Shell gas station. Authorities said both tickets turned out to be winners, one carrying a $40 prize and the other a $1 million jackpot.
The customer reportedly handed the tickets to the clerk to check the results. Authorities allege Patel informed the customer only about the $40 winning ticket and paid out that amount while keeping the jackpot ticket hidden.
According to investigators, the customer left the store unaware that he had actually won the top prize.
Officials later said Patel allegedly attempted to collect the $1 million prize through the Tennessee Lottery. However, lottery employees reportedly became suspicious after Patel claimed he had discovered the winning ticket in the trash.
That explanation triggered additional review.
Investigators used surveillance footage from the gas station to reconstruct the transaction and identify the original ticket purchaser. Authorities contacted the customer and informed him that he was, in fact, the legitimate winner.
Detective Lt. Steve Craig said the customer had no idea about the jackpot until investigators reached out.
Officials described the outcome as unusually positive because the rightful winner was eventually located and able to claim the prize.
The customer has since collected the $1 million.
The case has drawn attention online, with many pointing to surveillance footage and verification procedures as key reasons the alleged scheme did not succeed.
The investigation remains ongoing.
