An Indian-origin convenience store manager in Miami has been arrested after police accused him of stealing more than $300,000 worth of lottery scratch-off tickets from his workplace, reports Local 10.
Miami Police said 34-year-old Rakesh Tanguturi managed Bargain Stop Market II in the Little Haiti area. He was taken into custody on Monday on two felony charges. He faces charges of organised scheme to defraud and first-degree grand theft.
According to an arrest report, the owner called them on January 23 after seeing that thousands of dollars had been taken from the shop’s bank account for Florida Lottery transactions. The owner started checking the issue about a week after noticing the unusual withdrawals.
Investigators said the owner linked the missing money to Tanguturi. Police said he first “denied any involvement or wrongdoing” but later admitted in a text message to taking scratch-off ticket books, “cashing them and using the proceeds for personal expenses.”
Police estimate that Tanguturi stole more than $300,000 worth of tickets.
However, they said he repaid a large portion of the money, leaving the store with a net loss of about $60,000.
“Tanguturi stated he had begun repaying the store and requested to be placed on a payment plan to repay the remaining balance,” the report said.
It added: “He claimed his actions were motivated by the need to pay for medical care for his father in India, who has since passed away.”
Police said a Florida Lottery investigator discovered that the stolen ticket books “were cashed in bulk at a single retailer,” which “is unusual and indicative of fraud.”
After the owner hired a new manager, police went to the store and arrested Tanguturi. He is being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on a $30,000 bond.
Police also said that an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer has been placed on him.
